Petition · past parliament · Department for Education

Sex education and consent to be mandatory in primary schools

Closed 315 signatures

What the petition asks

I believe that children should be taught the importance of consent, the different types of consent and what consent actually is, as part of a mandatory sex education curriculum.
I believe that children should be taught that informed consent isn't just "yes" and "no" when it comes to sexual intercourse.

I believe that there is not enough education out there about what informed consent is - and if any, it is taught at a very late stage.

Children should be taught from a young age that consent should be reversible, freely given, enthusiastic, informed and specific.

I believe that we could potentially lower the cases of sexual assault, sexual violence and harassment by teaching children how to ask for it, why it is so important and the consequences of not asking.

Timeline

19 Oct 2020 Petition opened for signatures
19 Apr 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 315
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 19 Oct 2020
Closed 19 Apr 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.