House of Commons · Westminster Hall
01 April 2025 · 14 other contributors · 10,228 words
Opened by Helen Maguire Lib Dem Epsom and Ewell
Responding minister: Catherine McKinnell
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Helen Maguire raised concerns about relationship education in schools in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The debate calls for urgent adaptation in relationship education to counter inappropriate ideas and protect women and girls from violence, focusing on prevention through education and addressing the role of social media in shaping perceptions.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
The relationship education that young people receive does not address contemporary issues, with 41% of teachers witnessing aggressive misogyny, 51% seeing pupils advocate sexual violence, and only 43% of students feeling represented by existing education. Online sources and pornography are primary information sources for many young people, with 60% unaware of signs of healthy or unhealthy relationships.
Reported troubling behavioural issues from boys in schools and highlighted the need for a curriculum that promotes healthy masculinity and respect.
Congratulated Helen Maguire on securing the debate.
Highlighted the importance of educating children on prevention, signs of unhealthy relationships, and what a healthy relationship looks like, referencing West Yorkshire’s Pol-Ed programme. Parents of LGBTQ+ children are concerned that the 2024 guidance is creating a hostile environment and preventing conversations about trans and non-binary children.
Raises concerns about the quality and adequacy of relationship and sex education in UK schools, noting that only 50% of students rated their RSE classes as 'good' or 'very good'. Emphasises the importance of well-trained teachers delivering age-appropriate content to combat toxic ideologies.
Advocated for the RSHE regulations to be Cass-compliant, suggesting schools should not teach about gender identity and should uphold school ethos.
Offers a parental perspective, commending the debate but emphasizing that while they are not in opposition to other views, there is a need for clear guidance on delivering RSHE effectively and responsibly.
The hon. Member for Hexham highlights the epidemic of gender-based violence and peer-on-peer abuse cases in schools, calling for better safeguarding measures and changes to the curriculum to counter exposure to toxic content online. Pleased with progress on specialist rape teams but noted cultural issues in handling domestic abuse.
Emphasised urgent need for robust RSHE lessons given 60% of girls asked for nude pictures in 2022, citing lack of safety in schools.
Discussed the importance of embedding healthy relationships early on, focusing on upstream prevention and supporting parents as their children receive relationship guidance in school.
Stressed the importance of developing safe relationships through education, highlighting statistics on online harm experienced by girls and boys. Emphasised the need for proper funding, training, and support for schools to deliver high-quality RSHE.
Discussed the importance of relationship education and its role in addressing misogyny, online risks for young people, and the need to balance transparency with parents while ensuring political impartiality. Raised concerns about the teaching of factually incorrect content regarding gender identity.
Asked when the Government would respond to draft guidance on relationship education and highlighted inconsistencies in delivery across schools.
Asked about young people’s access to social media and supporting teachers banning smartphones and social media in schools.
Called for comprehensive relationship education to prevent violence, highlighting the need for inclusivity and teacher preparation.
Government Response
Catherine McKinnellThe Minister for School Standards
The Government will publish revised statutory guidance for relationship, sex and health education as soon as possible this year, focusing on keeping children's wellbeing at its heart. The guidance aims to address the challenges posed by social media, pornography, and online misogyny while promoting positive attitudes towards equality and addressing harmful behaviour.