Abstract

Panel Discussion organised by the Education, Equality and Development academic group in the Faculty of Education, university of Cambridge, and the British Association of Sexual Educators (BASE)

Sex Education has always been a challenging, controversial and politically charged issue for British schools. The increasing cultural and religious diversity of UK society has brought greater complexity to the sex education debate; introducing multiple, and sometimes conflicting interpretations of what constitutes right and wrong, appropriate and inappropriate. New national guidelines emphasising the importance of consulting parents and the wider community have tried to address this situation and help schools plan sex education policy and practice. However, developing religiously tailored and culturally acceptable sex education programmes has proved to be easier said than done.

So should sex education in schools be as open as possible and or is it best left to families and faith groups? Is there a workable and practicable middle ground? What do these questions mean for education policy and where do the politicians and educators stand? The Education, Equality and Development academic group in the Faculty of Education and the British Association of Sexual Educators (BASE) have organised this panel discussion of experts and activists in the field to explore these issues and dilemmas and stimulate dialogue.

Speakers at the event will be: Simon Blake OBE , Chief Executive of Brook; Colleen McLaughlin, Professor of Education and Head of the Education Department at the University of Sussex; Yusuf Patel, founder of SRE Islamic; Michael Reiss, Anglican priest and Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education, University of London; Audrey Simpson OBE , acting CEO of the Family Planning Association; and Alireza Tabatabaie, medical doctor and specialist in clinical sexology.

For more information on the event and directions go to www.educ.cam.ac.uk/about/reachus/ and www.baseuk.org.