Covid-19: Educational Gaps
Lord Fowler Excerpts(3 years, 11 months ago)
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Baroness Berridge
My Lords, the Government give £2.4 billion a year at the moment in the pupil premium. As the noble Lord will be aware, there was the announcement of an additional £14.4 billion to schools over the next three years, which will begin to feed its way into the system. He is correct: we are aware of the need for catch-up and for targeted support, including over the summer, but there is no intention at the moment for schools to be open throughout the summer.
The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)
My Lords, I regret that the time allowed for that Question has elapsed. We now come to the second Oral Question.
Schools: Relationships and Sex Education
Lord Fowler Excerpts(3 years, 12 months ago)
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Baroness Berridge
My Lords, as relationships education in primary schools does not usually include sex education, there is no right to withdraw your children from that provision. However, at secondary school, when sex education is part of the content, parents have the right to withdraw their child from that education up until three terms before the child is 16, and the school is required to outline that right to parents. The balance is struck by allowing this only until three terms before the child is 16. Obviously, at that stage, when approaching the age of legal consent for sexual relationships, it is appropriate to provide some sex education if the child wishes to have it. The balance is between supporting parents’ rights and giving children their own right to request sex education as they develop.
The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)
My Lords, I regret to say that the time allowed for this Question has elapsed. We move on to the fourth Oral Question.