School pupils could be taught about sexting, porn and cyber bullying in sex education lessons

Is the success of London's schools down to the Government?
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Martin Coulter19 December 2017

School pupils could be taught about porn, sexting and cyber-bullying as part of a radical shake-up of sex education lessons across the UK.

A consultation has been launched in the hopes of revamping "out of date" guidelines in British schools.

The plans, revealed on Tuesday, suggest pupils should be taught about sexting, online porn and cyber-bullying to help them cope with "the real world".

Supporters of the update say the current curriculum does not address any of these issues and also fails to address mental health and LGBT issues.

The guidelines currently used in the UK school curriculum were issued under Tony Blair's Labour government in 2000.

Education secretary Justine Greening told Sky News: "The world's changed a lot since then, not least the online risks that our children and young people face.

"Whether (that be) cyberbullying, the huge amount of inappropriate material that is on the internet and sex - so we now need to update this guidance.

"We're working with people like Barnardo's and the NSPCC to make sure that we do it properly.

"It is important that everyone has their say and I think we need to speak to parents and teachers in particular. And of course, young people.

"I met with some young people in Parliament about a month ago and they were staggered that no government has updated the guidance since 2000.

"I think there is a general consensus that we need to improve things and that it is what we are making a start on today."

A report commissioned by the women and equalities committee last year, led by MP Maria Miller, found sexual harassment and abuse had become a "normal part of school life".

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