The debate over government attitudes towards children’s education continues to grow, with MPs and campaigners raising concerns about Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) and emphasizing the importance of families. The children’s commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, recently highlighted the significance of families during a speech at the Catholic Union’s annual Craigmyle Lecture. She stressed that families have a more powerful and transformative impact on children than schools. However, she expressed concern that the government often views families solely through the lens of the challenges they face, rather than recognizing their inherent strength.
Dame de Souza drew attention to her own experiences and research project, the ‘Family Review,’ which revealed that 78 percent of surveyed children would turn to their families first for help, particularly during lockdowns. She stated that strong families are essential for a healthy society and urged the government to recognize their power instead of focusing solely on their challenges. In her lecture, she also mentioned the launch of the “Big Ambition,” a major survey aimed at giving young people a voice across schools and communities. She also suggested that British policymakers look to the Hungarian family policy and tax model for potential future success.
Dame de Souza acknowledged the crucial role of the Church and faith-based communities in children’s lives, commending the Catholic Union for their contribution to the defense of the common good and national discourse. Meanwhile, in Parliament, Andrew Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire, accused the prime minister of failing to protect children from age-inappropriate RSE and gender ideology indoctrination. He expressed concern over the government’s refusal to make the findings of an independent review into RSE public, questioning their motives. Mr. Bridgen claimed that gender ideology indoctrination can have a corrosive effect on children.
As the issue continues to gain attention, protesters from Wales and MPs stood together in Parliament Square to protest against RSE legislation. The day before the protest, DUP MPs warned UK ministers against intervening in children’s education, criticizing recent updates to sex education in Northern Ireland. Westminster approved regulations earlier this year to provide Northern Ireland pupils with age-appropriate information on contraception and abortion services, a move that has faced opposition. DUP’s Carla Lockhart emphasized the importance of respecting parents’ roles as primary educators and criticized the lack of consultation with parents, teachers, and boards of governors regarding changes to RSE teaching in post-primary Northern Ireland.