MPs vote in favour of inclusive statutory Relationships and Sex Education

Last night MPs approved new statutory guidance in a landslide win for inclusive Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education.

The victory saw 538 MPs vote in favour, and only 21 MPs vote against the guidance, showing an overwhelming cross party support for the proposed changes. The Guidance will now be voted on in the House of Lords.

If approved, all secondary schools will be required to teach inclusive Relationships and Sex Education and all primary schools will be required to teach inclusive Relationships Education from September 2020. Health Education will be a mandatory subject in all state funded schools.

This will include different types of families and relationships, LGBT+ identities, and the damaging effect of stereotypes, and will extend to SEND schools for those with special education needs.

Emily James, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, said:

“We are delighted that MPs from all parties have shown their support for inclusive RSE. It is an encouraging, and long overdue, step towards equality for the LGBT+ community.

“The updated guidance is crucial if we are to ensure young people receive comprehensive and high-quality education about relationships and sex.

“We now need to ensure that teachers receive high-quality and specialist training to ensure they have the skills and confidence to teach the new mandatory subjects.”