Poll: Should all school children have compulsory sex education?
Seven out of 10 youngsters in the West Midlands think the government should ensure all children have lessons on sex and relationships, new figures reveal.
Three quarters of those asked believe all children would be safer if they had age-appropriate classes on sex and education, according to the poll for children's charity Barnardo's.
The results support calls by the charity for the government to introduce compulsory age-appropriate sex and relationships education through the Children and Social Work Bill.
Barnardo's wants MPs to put pressure on the government to make the change while the Bill is debated in the Commons this week.
More than nine in 10 of children surveyed said it was important for them to understand the dangers of being online so they could stay safe, and 85 per cent agreed young people would have healthier relationships if they understood why it is important to respect each other.
Hugh Sherriffe, Barnardo's regional director, said: "The overwhelming majority of children who answered our poll believe they would be safer if they had age-appropriate sex and relationships lessons in school. It's time to listen to children who are clearly telling us they need help understanding digital dangers and the risks of sharing images of themselves with strangers."
