Sex and relationship education planned for children aged seven

The “age-appropriate” classes would form part of a curriculum for life including topics such as managing money and citizenship, which is being proposed by the Liberal Democrats

It would mean personal, social and health education was compulsory in all state schools including academies and free schools.

A recent Ofsted report called for secondary school pupils to learn about issues such as pornography, relationships, and staying safe, rather than just the “mechanics” of reproduction. Sex and relationships education is compulsory in local authority secondary schools, but not in academies or free schools. The Lib Dem’s manifesto for the next election would seek to extend these lessons to children between the age of seven and 11.

Schools Minister David Laws said: “It is vitally important that children learn all the life skills they need when they are at school, and Lib Dems believe 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.”