Caroline has written to the new Prime Minister and Education Secretary urging them to make PSHE statutory ‘without delay’.

Lucas, who recently re-tabled her PSHE Bill, is a longstanding advocate of statutory PSHE. Both Justine Greening and Theresa May are reported to back making the subject compulsory. [1]

In a letter to the Prime Minister and Education Secretary Caroline said:

“Statutory PSHE is supported by the Education Committee, the Home Affairs Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Chairs of the Commons Health and Business, Innovation and Skills Committees,  Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, the Children’s Commissioner, the Chief Medical Officer, the Association for Directors of Public Health, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Association of Independent Local Safeguarding Children Boards Chairs, the NSPCC, two royal societies, six medical royal colleges, over 100 expert bodies, 85% of business leaders, 88% of teachers, 90% of parents and 92% of young people.

“Ten days ago, I re-tabled my PSHE Bill demonstrating the continuing and growing cross party support for this measure.  I would be delighted to support you in any way possible in achieving this change that is so urgently needed for all our children.”

ENDS

Contact: Matthew Butcher on 07885 459 904 or clucasmedia@parliament.uk 

[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/david-cameron-just-blocked-compulsory-sex-education---and-the-wo/

Full letter to May and Greening: 

Dear Theresa and Justine,

Congratulations on your new posts.

As you’ll know, in February, David Cameron, was reported to have blocked Nicky Morgan’s wish to make PSHE, including SRE, statutory.

At that time, it was reported in the Telegraph*, that you both supported Nicky Morgan in this matter.  Now that you are in a position to effect this change, I urge you to make PSHE statutory without delay.  Support for this move is widespread because good quality PSHE is urgent and necessary for our children’s safety.

Statutory PSHE is supported by the Education Committee, the Home Affairs Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Chairs of the Commons Health and Business, Innovation and Skills Committees,  Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, the Children’s Commissioner, the Chief Medical Officer, the Association for Directors of Public Health, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Association of Independent Local Safeguarding Children Boards Chairs, the NSPCC, two royal societies, six medical royal colleges, over 100 expert bodies, 85% of business leaders, 88% of teachers, 90% of parents and 92% of young people. 

Ten days ago, I re-tabled my PSHE Bill demonstrating the continuing and growing cross party support for this measure.  I would be delighted to support you in any way possible in achieving this change that is so urgently needed for all our children.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas