Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2019 to Question 243385 on Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education, whether the material and training for schools will include (a) testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), (b) the potential effects of STIs on those who contract them, (c) the treatment of STIs and (d) how STIs are transmitted; and if he will make a statement.

Teaching about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and Aids is included in the current statutory sex and relationships education guidance, which was published in 2000. Schools already teach these topics, often as part of their science curriculum and personal, social, health, and economic education.

In teaching about STIs under the new guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education, schools are free to decide which resources to use and the Department trusts headteachers to make those decisions. The guidance is clear that schools should draw on medically accurate information and set this in the broader context of the subjects as a whole.

The Department is committed to supporting schools to teach the new subjects to a high standard. The Department is working with subject experts to ensure schools are supported to improve their practice, including providing easy access to high-quality teaching materials across the requirements for the new subjects.