Sex education video in primary school angers parents
10:20am Friday 20th June 2008
A SEX education video which uses graphic images and explicit words has caused uproar with parents at a Yate primary school.
Children as young as five could be shown the film, made by documentary makers at Channel 4, at Kings Court Primary School in Sundridge Park.
Parents are being consulted about the Living and Growing video, which uses animated sequences of two adults and real pictures of animals having sex.
The narrator also uses words many parents at the school say are inappropriate for young children.
One parent of a five-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl at the school, who did not want to be named, said: "They are too young.
"It is quite explicit. How do we tell our children off for using words if they are being taught about them at school?"
Another mum, whose five-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl go to the school, said: "There was a showing of the video for parents and it was just too graphic for my liking.
"It is inappropriate until they are at the end of Year 6 at least."
The controversial film has sparked a debate over what age schools should start teaching children sex education.
Kings Court headteacher Maddie Kent said: "It gives children the information children need.
"It gives them the information in a very positive way in an enjoyable and fun way which they can deal with.
"It is all within the context of a loving relationship and teaches children to respect their own bodies and that what happens to their bodies is very natural.
"Considering what children are exposed to these days, this film makes sense of it all."
Mrs Kent said an 85 per cent majority of parents were so far in favour of showing the video.
One parent, whose nine-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter go to the school, said the issue had been "blown out of all proportion".
"Children don't remember very basic things so they are not going to remember words like that," said the mum.
"I would sooner they are taught about that sort of thing than me getting all embarrassed about it."
A meeting was held at the school on Wednesday night for parents to air their views over the film and questionnaires have now been handed out.
Mrs Kent will decide whether to show the film to pupils when responses have been collected and collated.
A spokesman for education authority South Gloucestershire Council said: "Children at Kings Court Primary School will not be shown the DVD until parents have been consulted.
"Ultimately it is the school's decision on whether to use the resource. Many schools across the South West already use this DVD."
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