Statement in response to new RSE curriculum announcement

This statement is in response to news that the new Relationships and Sex Education for school children will cover consent issues both on and offline.

Sarah West, Director of Communications and Campaigns at Plan International UK, said:

“We welcome the Department for Education's announcement that school children will be taught about consent and what constitutes a healthy relationship both online and offline in the new Relationships and Sex Education curriculum. 

"Young people have told us that they want an education that reflects the lives they lead in the 21st century, with advice about how to navigate the digital world. Our survey found that 85 per cent of girls think their school should teach them how to cope with sexist, racist or discriminatory behaviour online and 88 per cent of young people think their school should teach them how to stay safe online. If this is what young people say they need, it's our responsibility to listen to them.

“Good quality, age-appropriate relationships and sex education is a vital means of equipping children to deal with the challenges they face - especially girls - so it's important the new curriculum is right."