FPA Chief Executive Julie Bentley responds to comments on sex and relationships education

Responding to comments about sex and relationships education made on the Sunday Morning Live programme on Sunday 16 October 2011, FPA Chief Executive Julie Bentley said:

“The views expressed by Lynette Burrows on the Sunday Morning Live programme, in which she suggested that sex and relationships education is 'reminiscent of paedophilia' and referred to sex and relationships education material as dirty, are a gross distortion of what relationships and sex education is.

Sex and relationships education is NOT teaching children how to have sex. When FPA talks about relationships and sex education for primary-age children we mean talking to children about friendship, love, caring and respect. We mean helping children to understand, in an age appropriate way, how their bodies function. Relationships and sex education helps children to understand privacy and therefore helps them to be safe and protected.

Some people are of the view that children knowing the names and functions of their genitalia are dirty or crude – but there is nothing dirty or crude about this. Schools and families have a responsibility to ensure our children are equipped and are able to understand their own physical and emotional development.

Let’s stop giving air time to the minority who deliberately seek to distort what sex and relationships education is.”

 - Ends -

For further information please contact the FPA press office on 020 7608 5265/5264. Mobile 07958 921060.

The sexual health charity FPA champions the importance of good sexual health for everyone. We educate, inform, support and campaign for people across the UK. The Family Planning Association is a registered charity, number 250187.

About the press office.