SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Report on the Working Group on Sex Education in Scottish Schools

7. CONCLUSIONS & NEXT STEPS

7.1The initial stage of the work of the Group was concerned with the scope and general content of the package of safeguards proposed by the Scottish Executive. Our first report concluded that the package of safeguards was, in principle, sufficiently complete, wide ranging and robust to meet the legitimate concerns of the public, parents and teachers.

7.2The Working Group went on to review existing curriculum guidelines, advice and support information bearing on sex education. We took the opportunity to identify any material that required to be developed in advance of the repeal of section 2A, and to secure general improvements in the quality of sex education. We concluded that existing curriculum guidelines, advice and support information were adequate and required no revision but that they could usefully be complemented by the development of additional material to support teachers and schools in developing their programmes and consulting with parents. In addition, we concluded that it is important that the existing and new material should impact on the practice of all schools, not just those managed by local authorities. We urge that all the Working Group's recommendations be developed with due regard to the cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity of contemporary Scotland.

7.3It is important to distinguish between these recommendations. The first and most important group that should precede the withdrawal of section 2A are shown below.

CENTRAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP

1.The Scottish Executive should adopt the key principles and aims for sex education identified by this Working Group, incorporate them in the guidance circular, and consult on the terms of this guidance.

2.Summary guidance on available curricular advice and materials should be developed by the Scottish Executive and made available to schools.

3.The Scottish Executive should offer guidance to local authorities and schools on effective consultation with parents.

4.The Scottish Executive should produce a parent’s leaflet explaining the nature and purpose of sex education, its place within health education and the importance of its relationship to Personal and Social Education and Religious and Moral Education. This should be available in braille and other languages.

5.The Scottish Executive should organise seminars for key personnel from local authorities to help prepare the local response to the statutory guidance.

7.4The above recommendations derive from the issues and considerations that emerged from each of the earlier sections in this report. We respectfully suggest that it should be possible to retain the overwhelming support of parents for programmes of sex and relationship education that is both relevant and of high quality by implementing fully the following suggestions which relate to more general improvements that are not directly related to section 2A.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP

The Scottish Executive

• Should ensure that the existing and new material should impact on the practice of all schools, not just those managed by local authorities.
• Should monitor sex education and the use of exemplar material on sex education through HMI reports.
• Should provide financial assistance to support local authorities with staff development in relation to sex education.
• Should develop national advice that helps local authorities work within relevant legislation covering issues of confidentiality and also shared protocols for schools and external agencies.
• The Scottish Executive should assist schools with self-evaluation in sex education and other sensitive health areas by commissioning exemplar materials which build on the national document 'A Route to Health Promotion'.
• Should provide support to local authorities and Higher Education Institutions in ensuring pre-service training and continuing professional development are addressed appropriately.

Local Authorities

• Should review existing policies & advice to schools to take account of the statutory guidance.
• Should develop appropriate training and in-service for school staff and partner organisations involved in sex education.
• Should promote and monitor the use of exemplar materials.
• Should devise protocols and procedures which spell out the operating arrangements between schools and external agencies involved in health promotion.
• Should review existing advice to schools on bullying.
• Should put in place arrangements which ensure that headteachers monitor the programmes and methodology used in relation to sex education and Personal and Social Education.

Headteachers

• Should initiate discussion with parents on the package of safeguards.
• Should ensure that all staff are made fully aware of the school’s/authority’s policy and response to the statutory guidance.
• Should ensure that appropriate materials are used in relation to sex education.
• Need to ensure that all staff are fully aware of the implications of any protocols with external partner agencies.
• Should undertake arrangements to keep parents informed about the school’s programme of sex education.
• Should liaise with the associated pre-school centre/primary/secondary school to ensure continuity of health education.
• Must consider the particular issues arising from the provision of sex education for young people with special educational needs;
• Should use staff development and review to identify training and in-service needs relating to health education.

School Staff

• Should familiarise themselves with the statutory guidance and relevant policy documents.
• Should contribute to the development of school policy and programmes of work.

Parents

• Should work in partnership with the school.
• Should have opportunities to contribute to the development of school policy and programmes of work.

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