Sex education to resume after year-long hiatus

Relationship and sex education lessons were paused in March 2023

Relationship and sex education is to resume in some Isle of Man schools from April, the education department has confirmed.

Lessons were paused in March last year amid concerns raised at one school about the content of lessons.

A subsequent investigation found some of the claims made about "graphic" teaching were inaccurate but called for improved teacher training.

Resources will be put on a new website to allow parents and carers to access the content before the lessons take place, the department said.

A number of lessons are to begin following the Easter holidays, with the roll-out of the full curriculum by September.

Future teaching will be based on Scotland's Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood programme, after changes to how the resources are shared with parents and how teachers are trained.

'Safe space'

A spokesman for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) said the lessons were designed to teach students about the "emotional, social and physical aspects of human development, relationships, sexuality, consent, wellbeing and sexual health".

Additionally staff would "receive specialist training to deliver specific areas of content", addressing a number of recommendations made in the investigation, he said.

Welcoming the return of the subject, DESC Minister Daphne Caine said: "The new website will bring transparency and additional training means we will have a specialist group of staff that are better equipped to deliver developmentally appropriate lessons."

The subject gave "children a safe space to ask questions and learn how to make their own informed choices to enjoy safe, healthy relationships throughout their lives", she added.