Responding to the leaked details of the government's new RSHE guidance, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

"Relationships, Sex and Health Education covers a wide range of content and is vital to help safeguard young people and prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. 

“Some of the topics covered are particularly sensitive and need considered and measured debate. It is utterly disgraceful that once again this government has decided to engage in private briefings and media leaks simply to grab headlines. The children and young people of this country deserve better.

“If what has been leaked is accurate, the government must provide the evidence which unequivocally shows that such age limits will improve the support, protection and safeguarding of children and young people.

“We have serious concerns about how potential ‘limits’ would work in practice. Schools already work hard to ensure that the curriculum and teaching is age-appropriate based on the current government guidance and have the vital flexibility to respond to their own community and the needs of pupils in their schools. Curriculum content is also shared and discussed with parents.

“We cannot ignore the fact that some children and young people are already accessing information from different sources outside of school. This may lead to questions that need careful handling from trained professionals. It is hard to see how rigid limits on what can be discussed and when would be in the best interests of young people - and this may even risk them seeking information from less reliable sources.”