Schools’ sex ed provider tells over-14s prostitution is ‘rewarding’

Children as young as 14-years-old have been told that prostitution is a “rewarding” job by a schools’ sex education provider.

Responding to a website post about being coerced into prostitution, Justin Hancock, who runs sex advice site BISH website, claimed “many people find it rewarding — just like other jobs” and suggested the woman who asked the question may only be unhappy because she needs “better clients”.

The site, aimed at over-14s, says its content is not designed for classroom use, but that teachers can buy resources from it. More than 100,000 young people reportedly use the website monthly.

‘Indefensible’

Hancock responded to a separate question on a sexual relationship between a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old, claiming “your risks of pregnancy are very, very low”, but did not explain that underage sex is illegal.

In a section on masturbation, BISH encouraged parents to make Play-Doh models of genitals for children so they could practice touching them “in a similar way to how they may touch their own”.

Safe Schools Alliance called the content “completely indefensible”, saying: “Telling children to practise masturbating on a plasticine model is child sexual abuse.”

Pro-LGBT organisation The Proud Trust also created resources asking children aged seven to eleven whether they felt closest to “planet boy, planet girl” or “planet non-binary”. Its Alien Nation resource was funded by Cheshire West and Chester council.

Investigation

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) was made compulsory in secondary schools from September 2020.

Last week, it was revealed that the Children’s Commissioner for England is to launch an investigation into the teaching of RSE in schools.

Dame Rachel de Souza told the Education Committee that “thoughtful and age-appropriate” resources were “absolutely critical”, particularly given the dangers of the online world.

Miriam Cates MP had spoken to the committee about her concerns, and gave what De Souza called “some horrendous examples” of what had been taught in class.