Fury over sex survey sent to 14-year-old schoolchildren by local council that asks them about their sexual experiences

Fury over sex survey sent to 14-year-old schoolchildren by local council that asks them about their sexual experiences
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Luke Ridley

By Luke Ridley


Published: 15/12/2021

- 13:17

Concerns have been raised about some of the questions about sex and relationships that will be put to children who could be as young as fourteen in Scotland.

Councillors have urged City of Edinburgh Council to stop a controversial sex survey aimed at 14-year-old pupils that asks them about their sexual experiences including when they first had sex and if they have had anal sex.

The Scottish Government's national Health and Wellbeing Census is an online questionnaire for children in P5 to S6 who are fourteen years old and above, is being rejected by some local authorities.


The Government says the census will help authorities to 'identify and drive forward local improvements and monitor the results of any changes made' to the health and wellbeing of young people.

Concerns have been raised about some of the questions about sex and relationships that will be put to children in their early teens.

The survey that will go to students, includes questions such as 'how much, if any, sexual experience have you had?', and asks pupils about the first time they had sex.

It also questions youngsters' experiences of 'oral sex', different sexual practices and the use of different contraceptives.

Conservative councillor Callum Laidlaw said a 'significant number' of parents and parent councils are worried about the questionnaire.

He said: 'We have health and wellbeing in the classroom already so it's not necessarily about that, it's about why you want to ask individual children those sorts of questions.

'It's not just the questions around types of sex. It's also 'do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?'.

'It's asking very personal questions that will put a lot of young people potentially in a difficult position, they will feel awkward.

'From the questions I know are going to be asked by other local authorities and will in theory be asked in Edinburgh, I personally think some of them are inappropriate.'

The survey will be completed by pupils during class time and, although they will not be asked to type in their name, pupils will be have to provide their SCN number which schools and the council could use to identify and offer support if responses flag concern.

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