Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Deferred
Paragraph: 33
Inadequate and late delivery of mandatory menstrual cycle education impacts girls' PE participation.
Conclusion
Key anxieties for girls include concerns around periods, yet education on the menstrual cycle, despite being mandatory, is only being delivered in half of schools. It is shocking that around 50% of schools are disregarding a vital, and mandatory, element of the curriculum. Where it is being delivered, in most cases, it is part of a biology lesson and years after most girls will have started their period. As we have found in our other work, this is typical of current teaching on reproductive health, which is inadequate, irrelevant to girls’ needs, and delivered too late in girls’ development. These failings are having obvious consequences for girls’ confidence and, in terms of participation in and enjoyment of PE and sport, leading to withdrawal from necessary, healthy activity.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation but deflected by responding solely on the importance of offering a wide choice of PE kit and sports bras for girls, including elite athletes, without addressing the core issue of inadequate menstrual cycle education.
Paragraph Reference:
33
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government accepts this recommendation. The Department for Education recognises the importance of ensuring schools offer the widest possible choice of PE kit to girls to promote their participation in sport and PE. School governing boards are responsible for deciding whether to have a school uniform and what it should be–including any clothing needed for PE. To support schools in developing and implementing their school uniform policy, the Department for Education has already issued Non Statutory Guidance regarding school uniform and recommends that schools proactively engage with parents and pupils when designing their uniform policies. The guidance advises schools to select PE kit which is practical, comfortable, and appropriate to the activity involved. The Department for Education is committed to continually reviewing the guidance issued to schools for the development of their school uniform and PE kit policy. Whilst not directly relevant to PE kit, it is important to note wider changes happening in this space. For example, the UK Sports Institute (a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Sport) have been working closely with research partners and commercial suppliers over the past four years to provide athletes with education and access to correctly fitting sports bras. This culminated in over 100 athletes from 15 different sports being provided with bespoke bras for the Tokyo Games. During the Paris cycle, UKSI partnered with Panache to continue this work and have worked with around 50 athletes from six sports so far. As part of the Paris cycle, UKSI have also worked with 11 sports and approximately 150 female athletes on apparel development. Work in this space explores the fit, feel and form Health barriers for girls and women in sport: Government and Sport England responses 7 of female training and competition kit, collating both qualitative and quantitative data on how it performs and is perceived. The collaboration with the athletes enables them to take ownership of kit selection, making informed decisions.