FORMING and maintaining healthy, happy and fulfilling relationships will be the focus of new relationship education in Wales.

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams has announced major changes to Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and its place in the curriculum.

The announcement comes 30 years after Section 28 was introduced in schools in Wales, England and Scotland, which banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools.

At present, teaching young people about sex and relationships is a statutory part of the basic curriculum in Wales, but it is down to individual schools to decide their approach to the subject.

This new approach will give a broader understanding of sexuality, including the needs of LGBTQ+ learners, and shift the focus from purely 'biological' education, to an emphasis on forming and maintaining healthy, happy and fulfilling relationships.

Children aged five to 16 will also be taught about issues such as consent, domestic abuse and respecting diversity, through age-appropriate material and study.

Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) will become statutory when Wales’ new curriculum is rolled out in 2022, but the name change will be put in place before then, alongside refreshed guidance for schools on topics such as education for LGBTQI+ learners and prevention of violence against women and domestic abuse.

Said Kirsty Williams: “The days of traditional sex education are long gone; the world has moved on and our curriculum must move with it.

“Sex should never be taught in isolation for the simple reason that it is about so much more than just sex; it’s also about relationships, rights and respect and that must go hand in hand with a much broader understanding of sexuality.

"Anything less does a disservice to our learners and teachers.

“The fact is relationships and sexuality shape our lives as well as the world around us.

"They are a fundamental part of who we are and how we understand ourselves, each other and society."

She added: "30 years on from the introduction of Section 28, we will also ensure that RSE is fully inclusive of all genders and sexualities and meets the needs of LGBTQI+ learners.

“Crucial to all of this will be ensuring that our teachers have the knowledge and confidence to provide the RSE our learners deserve."