News

Having seen the BBC news programme concerning the new approach being taken by the KCC, I am in favour of it.

The earlier our children learn and come to terms with sex education the better, it is blatantly obvious what ever is being done is not enough , we have the most appalling record on teenage pregnancies and single mothers in Europe and the world and that is no disrespect to any single mother, most do an excellent job under very differcult circumstances,however the blame must be laid at the door of successive governments for taking an 'ostrich mentality' on sex education for children, and parents them selves should also be better equipped to back up their schools on these matters along with discipline.

Instead of taking the so called 'moral' high ground it's time for these parents and politicians to come down from their ivory towers and start dealing with the real world and its problems!

The BBC report about The Churchill School's decision to show the Sex Ed video we have all had the opportunity to watch on several occasions at school was pointless.

I give Jennie Carter and the Governors my support in the decision to use this material and of course respect the fact that some parents are choosing to remove their children from that input. I think it is a great shame that some parents felt the need to make a fuss and contact the BBC when clearly the decision lies with them to include or exclude their child.

As far as the implications of being removed and the subsequent bullying some parents seem to fear, I think that actually the school will be able to deal with any bullying issues very well and that the staff at school is very much on top of things when it comes to listening to pupils, dealing with unacceptable behaviour and making pupils feel safe and secure within the school community.

Sex Ed at my school was just factual and did not explain anything about love and respect - this program does!

I think it is up to each family to decide whether they want to teach their children or let the school assist them. Open dialogue with children is better than making the whole subject a taboo when those very children are easily subjected to so much inappropriate information on television. Those of you who let your children have televisions in their rooms - Do you REALLY know what they are watching late at night?

Parents are not forced or pressured into having their children take part in the lesson - we all have a choice and our decisions are respected.

Six does sound young to start sex and relationship education but if there's any school that I would trust to do this it's The Churchill School.

The Churchill School is as good at looking after children's emotional development as it is in the more traditional subjects and, in my view, is one of the best schools in Kent.

Sex and relationship education at primary school level is a decision for the school governors in consultation with the parents. Parents have the right to 'opt out' of the sex and relationship lessons DVD for their children but they don't have a right of veto over other parents' choice to 'opt in'