AQW 4806/22-27


Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down


Tabled Date: 17/10/2022
Answered On Date: 29/02/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether she will amend The Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 to include Relationship and Sexuality Education.


Answer:
These are historical questions from 2022 and the answer below is therefore based on the current position in respect of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE).
Relationships and Sexuality education (RSE) is mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age as set out in The Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007. The statutory curriculum for Personal Development and Mutual Understanding at primary level and the Personal Development strand of Learning for Life and Work at post-primary level, prescribes the high-level minimum content RSE at each key stage. This is the minimum entitlement that all young people must receive. The minimum content provides flexibility and schools have a high degree of autonomy over what is taught.
On 5 June 2023 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland brought forward Regulations under his powers in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 to ensure that the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the 2018 report of the United Nations Committee on the Ending of Discrimination Against Women (“the CEDAW Report”) were implemented in respect of Northern Ireland.
Specific to education, paragraph 86(d) required the United Kingdom Government to “Make age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights a compulsory curriculum component for adolescents, covering early pregnancy prevention and access to abortion, and monitor its implementation”. The Department is required to report to the Assembly by September 2026 on the implementation.
The Relationships and Sexuality Education (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 amended the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 in respect of Learning for Life and Work to ensure pupils at key stages 3 and 4 (aged 11-16 in years 8-12) receive age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion.
On 1 January 2024 my Department issued RSE guidance to schools to support the changes brought about by the Secretary of State. Whilst the Board of Governors and the principal have statutory responsibility to deliver the minimum curriculum content, they also have autonomy over when, how and who is involved in curriculum delivery, aligned with the ethos of the school. This includes the change to the curriculum made by the Secretary of State with regards to RSE.
In relation to the Gillen Review, my officials continue to engage with the Department of Justice (DoJ) led Gillen Implementation Team and with the Executive Office to tackle the issue and end violence against women and girls.