Petition · past parliament
Make consent a mandatory part of sex education from start of secondary school.
Rejected
12 signatures
What the petition asks
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victims of child sexual abuse.
If rape and sexual consent were to become a part of sex education, children would learn from an early age the importance of consent and the consequences of rape
If rape and sexual consent were to become a part of sex education, children would learn from an early age the importance of consent and the consequences of rape
The effects of child sexual abuse can be long-lasting and affect the victim's mental health.
About 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse
About 4 times more likely to experience PTSD as adults
About 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults
Evidence:
RAINN
Rape Crisis
About 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse
About 4 times more likely to experience PTSD as adults
About 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults
Evidence:
RAINN
Rape Crisis
Why it was rejected
It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.
We understand you're concerned about teaching about consent in sex education in secondary schools, but the Government has already published draft statutory guidance about what should be taught, including sexual consent. So we're not sure exactly what else you like the Government or Parliament to do.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 requires relationships and sex education to be taught in all English schools from September 2020. Draft statutory guidance, published in February 2019, sets out what should be taught, including "the concepts and laws relating to sexual consent".
The House of Commons Library has published some information about what's changing in sex and relationships education. You can find out more here:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/insights/relationships-and-sex-education-in-schools-whats-changing/
You can read the draft statutory guidance here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781150/Draft_guidance_Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education2.pdf
You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 requires relationships and sex education to be taught in all English schools from September 2020. Draft statutory guidance, published in February 2019, sets out what should be taught, including "the concepts and laws relating to sexual consent".
The House of Commons Library has published some information about what's changing in sex and relationships education. You can find out more here:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/insights/relationships-and-sex-education-in-schools-whats-changing/
You can read the draft statutory guidance here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781150/Draft_guidance_Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education2.pdf
You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.
Timeline
| 15 Oct 2019 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 17 Oct 2019 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
12
Status
Rejected
Rejected
17 Oct 2019
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.