Liberal Democrats: Sex education lessons should start from aged seven

All children in England’s state schools should start getting 'age-appropriate' lessons including sex education and money management aged seven-11.

18:09 26 August 2014

Liberal Democrats said that all children in England’s state schools should start getting “age-appropriate” lessons including sex education, money management and citizenship knowledge from the age of seven.

Under the Lib Dem plans, which is supported by Labour, schools would be required to offer lessons on sex and relationships in Key Stage 2 - which includes children aged seven to 11.

Lib Dem schools minister David Laws said: "It is vitally important that children learn all the life skills they need when they are at school, and Liberal Democrats believe that this should include learning financial literacy, citizenship and age-appropriate sex and relationship education.

"We have long made the case, both inside and outside government, for updated sex and relationship education to be taught in all schools, including academies and free schools, but it is not something the Conservatives are open to.

"We believe that by educating children about sex and relationships in an appropriate way, we can help them to make informed choices in their personal lives."