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Sex education for Primary School children?

The government has announced that lessons about personal, social and health matters including sex and relationships will be compulsory in all England's schools from ages 5 to 16. A review is to be set up though as to how best to achieve this as the government accepts there are "complicated issues" and wants to factor in the ethos of schools, pupils' needs and parents' values. It says that lessons should be "age appropriate".

A 91热爆 poll of more than 1,000 people found two thirds would support sex lessons from the age of 11. How do you feel though about sex lessons for primary school children? The Schools Minister Jim Knight told the 91热爆 that he was not suggesting that five and six year olds should be taught sex and that it would still be up to schools to decide what to teach within a compulsory high-level "programme of study".

Jim Knight acknowledged that faith groups would want their own schools to deliver that programme in a way sympathetic to their moral and faith beliefs. But what will this mean in practice and what if your children do not attend a school connected to your particular faith or beliefs?

The Catholic Education Service for England and Wales has supported the plans. It believes that lessons should be shaped by Catholic teaching and hopes that parents will not exercise their legal right to withdraw their children from the lessons which will be taught in Catholic schools. And yet the Vatican is firmly opposed to sexual education of young children.

The Methodist Church in Britain has also welcomed the plans saying that in an increasingly sexualised society young people need to be properly prepared to confront the issues and problems they will encounter in life. Sandy Youngson, a Methodist Church representative who sat on the review board that advised the government argues "Talking about sex does not increase the chances of somebody doing it; in fact it is the opposite."

The Christian Institute meanwhile has joined other campaigners in warning that the plans will lead to the sexualisation of children and undermine parents. It says extending sex education to primary schools is a step too far and that we are becoming a culture obsessed with sex.

Labour MP Geraldine Smith commented in similar terms, "To start sex education at primary school is to rob young children of their innocence". Trevor Stammers from Family and Youth Concern has warned that "valueless" education will simply exacerbate the problems the Government hopes to address, such as teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

What do you think? Should sex education be taught in primary schools? Should the responsibility for teaching children about sex lie with their parents or their teachers? When should children first start to learn about sex and relationships? How do you feel the government's plans sit with your personal faith and beliefs? What was your own personal experience of sex education?