Sex Education

Available for over a year

Last year the Children and Social Work Act became law, requiring all schools provide relationship and sex education from September 2019. As part of this process, the government has been calling for evidence from individuals and organisations in order to update its guidance for schools. So why have representatives of the visually impaired community seemingly not participated in this process to date? Is this a sign that all is well for the estimated 70 per cent of visually impaired students in mainstream education? Peter White hears from a student who thinks not. He is also joined by sex education teacher Cathy Wright from New College, Worcester - one of the few remaining schools dedicated to teaching visually impaired students, and Lucy Emmerson from Sex Education Forum to discuss. Marsha de Cordova is visually impaired and joined the still small but growing band of MPs with a disability when she was elected as Labour MP for Battersea in last year's general election. She's since added to her workload by gaining a quick promotion to become Shadow Minister for Disabled People. Our reporter Tom Walker spent a day with her in parliament.