By Matt Chorely
Schools are free to give lessons in pornography, an education minister has admitted despite concerns about the impact of hardcore images on children.
Campaigners have warned that growing numbers of youngsters are hooked on graphic films found online.
While lessons on pornography would focus on the impact and dangers of graphic images online, they could backfire by alerting children to what can be easily accessed on the internet.
David Cameron is preparing to make it easier for parents to block online porn from new computers.
But Liz Truss insisted lessons in porn can form part of ‘age appropriate’ studies.
Some teaching unions have called for students to be taught about porn from the age of 10.
But an alarming study last month revealed children as young as 11 are becoming addicted to internet pornography giving them ‘unrealistic expectations’ of sex.
Counsellors at Childline also report a surge in calls from youngsters traumatised after seeing adult images online.
The intervention by Miss Truss comes a month after a teaching union called for students to be taught porn from the age of 10, so that they know about the dangers and can protect themselves from stumbling across adult images.
The green light from a minister could encourage more schools to institute lessons in pornography – a development which will alarm many parents.
She said: ‘The Government wants all young people to have high quality, age appropriate sex and relationships education.
‘The current non-statutory programmes of study for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, which include sex and relationship education, can provide opportunities for schools to teach about pornography.’
PSHE, which includes sex and relationships education, is not compulsory in England unlike other parts of the UK.
