News,
Amendments to the Academies Bill currently in the House of Lords raise the possibility of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) becoming an issue in the forthcoming Education Bill.
Crossbench Peer, Lord Northbourne, has tabled amendment number 70 to the Bill which states that, “Academy arrangements must include terms imposed for the purpose of securing that—
(a) every pupil in the Academy has the benefit of age-appropriate Personal, Social and Health Education; and
(b) every pupil over the age of 14 has the benefit of age appropriate education about relationships including sex and sexual relationships and also with special emphasis on the needs of young children and the responsibilities and challenges of parenthood.”
This amendment will be moved when the Committee stage resumes on Monday 28 June.
Please e-mail one or more of the peers below, asking them to oppose Amendment 70.
There is a danger that peers will be using this amendment to attempt to put pressure on the new Coalition Government to reassert the claim that comprehensive SRE helps cut abortion.
The Academies Bill would enable more schools in England to become academies. The Government expects a significant number of academies to open in September 2010, and for the number to grow each year.
Government peers: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Chief Whip), Lord Shutt of Greetland (Deputy Chief Whip), Lord Hill of Oareford (Bill Minister), Lord De Mauley, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Baroness Verma, Earl Attlee, Lord Bates, Lord Marland, Baroness Warsi, Earl Howe, Lord McColl of Dulwich
Opposition peers: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Leader of the Opposition), Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Deputy Leader), Lord Bassam of Brighton (Opposition Chief Whip), Crossbench peers: Baroness Cox, Lord Alton
You can find email addresses for Lords via http://www.spuc.org.uk/lobbying/email/email (Please SPUC know if you experience any problems using this list).
Please forward any replies you receive to political@spuc.org.uk
More information can be found in:
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