Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to encourage and support maintained secondary schools in England and Wales to do more to prepare their pupils for the responsibilities of parenthood.

We are clear that as part of schools’ duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, all young people should be provided with a curriculum that prepares them for success in adult life.

Schools are best placed to make decisions about the education of their pupils. Teachers are able to cover parenting skills in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education lessons. The non-statutory programme of study for PSHE includes the roles and responsibilities of parents, parenting skills, the value of family relationships, and the impact of separation, divorce and bereavement on families.

The Department does not hold information on secondary schools in Wales. This is the responsibility of the Welsh Government.