DS’s school to teach abstinence education

[Childsschool128]

DS goes to a normal state school but they have sent home a letter saying that their sex ed they will be teaching from next term will include:
-the benefits of having one lifelong monogamous partnership
-the risks of contraceptives
-the dangers of unprotected sex
-the benefits of not having sex in teenage years
-the health risks of sexual promiscuity.
DS is 15 (year 10) and there has never been any indication they were anything other than mainstream in the past. Is this really what is taught in UK schools nowadays DS is my eldest so I have never had to deal with anything like this before.

Sorry didn’t mean to enable voting

Is that not a good thing? Make abstinence cool. Kids were bullied for being virgins at 16 in my day (late 2000's).

@FrostedCranberries

Is that not a good thing? Make abstinence cool. Kids were bullied for being virgins at 16 in my day (late 2000's).

Depends if they will only be teaching abstinence.

Hmm see I mean teaching about unprotected sex etc is great but I’m not a believe of the whole 1 person for life being taught and think it can actually be very unhealthy.

What’s wrong with teaching the benefits of abstinence? It should be talked about more instead of a blind acceptance of teen sex. It should be taught as a part of the sex education module.

Bloody hell, that is most definitely what is taught in our school! The risks of contraceptives? Wtf?
I would be asking for a copy of the material used and checking it carefully for its source, hopefully not based on American purity teaching?

NOT what is taught in our school!

Ask to see the school policy, compare it to the new national guidance for RSHE and RSE of the DfE website. All of those things in the context of a wider curriculum in this area are okay - but if that is ALL they are teaching they will not be meeting the new statutory requirements. It is not clear if you have just picked out a few statements (and out in your own words) from much wider curriculum.
You can ask to see an overview of their Relationships and Sex Education policy (which they have to make public - but schools now have until April 2021 to do this). It sounds like they are consulting - so ask them questions.

KS4 programme for SRE is here starting at P26
www.pshe-association.org.uk/system/files/PSHE%20Association%20Programme%20of%20Study%20for%20PSHE%20Education%20%28Key%20stages%201–5%29%2C%20Jan%202020.pdf

I'm very in favour of abstinence, we're a Religious family, however I think that abstenance should be taught as a choice along with all the other options.

I assume the risks of contraception is that it is not 100% foolproof

Sounds like a good idea. I graduated aged 20 i law a teetotal virgin with law prizes. Paid off for me big time!

It should certainly be one option presented to teenagers.

I am most concerned here about the risks of contraceptives here. That's neither an accurate nor a healthy message. I second the recommendation to seek the source of the content. You can of course over-write the teaching by teaching him properly yourself, but I would worry about kids who don't have that option for whatever reason

@ineedaholidaynow

I assume the risks of contraception is that it is not 100% foolproof

Isn't that taught anyway?

Pressure on teen girls to put out can be immense, with every manipulative trick in the book being used by boys. I’ve gone through it myself: ‘boring’, ‘frigid’ and whatnot. With the ability to say ‘yes’ to sex (as long as you use protection), should also come the confidence to comfortably say no to whatever you want.

I would want to know what they mean about the risks of contraceptives, and whether this is being delivered by a new educational provider (and if there is a particular religious slant to this).

Is this a change in provision, and have they given any indication about how this approach will be beneficial? For example, will the content still be appropriate for those which are already sexually active?

Surely teaching that one life long relationship is slightly outdated though back to times where it as frowned upon to divorce.

I wouldn't be happy with tha'.

For a start off, pity the poor bloody kids that have already been sexually abused and raped. Way to compound their misery.

Proselytising against contraceptives? Whose interests is that in? Certainly not the girls.

contraceptives are all much lower risk than pregnancy - although this doesn't affect the male, of course. unprotected sex is of course risky for disease and unwanted pregnancy.

sounds like some disgusting religious nut has sneaked in. Tell them you want your kids taught the science, that no-one HAS to have sex, but if they want to they need to keep themselves safe

I teach risks of contraception as in pros and cons of different types. That hormones don’t suit everyone, that condoms can break, that nothing is 100% effective, that sort of thing

@Xenia your ability to brag and shoehorn your achievements into any conceivable thread is admirable. Honestly incredible reach here.

That is honestly frightening op. Abstinence is clearly not sex ed and that lifelong monogamy bullshit sounds like a religious stick to beat women with.

Apart from 'the benefits of not having sex in your teens', the rest of it is rather basic 'should learn' stuff. Contraception is definitely a biggie, especially driving home to boys that there should be no excuse about wearing a condom, and it's not just up to girls to take the pill (never mind the possibility of not being truthful about taking it).

Is it your wording or theirs @Childsschool128?

My girls as primary school students had to do Religious Education. We got books about Evolution, etc, discussed relevant topics, and I got asked to remove my kids from this class as apparently they were 'disruptive'. Just sayin'. . .

Well we got taught the only 100%form of contraception ,was that little word no ,but this was a Catholic school in the 80,s 🤣 surely all schools have to follow the national curriculum these days?