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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stephanie Brawn

Controversial sex questions in school health and well-being survey revised by Renfrewshire Council chiefs

A school survey that contained "highly inappropriate" questions about pupils' sexual activity has been overhauled by Renfrewshire Council chiefs.

The Scottish Government's health and well-being census was temporarily shelved by the local authority in December after a furious backlash from parents and councillors about its content, which included asking students in S4 to S6 if they had had anal sex.

However, the council is now set to release a revised version of the survey with the original sex-related questions removed.

It is understood those questions have been replaced with more general queries about pupils' health and well-being and the survey will not ask for detailed information about their sexual history.

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Labour councillor Alison Dowling, who criticised the initial questionnaire, said she was pleased with the action taken by the council.

She said: "I am satisfied Renfrewshire Council officers have taken on board the concerns I raised in relation to the survey and have come back with a revised version which will still enable the council to collect high-quality data to support young people as they develop into adults.

"The revised survey will not feature highly inappropriate and intrusive questions.

"Questions from the original survey on sexual health have been removed and replaced with more general questions on health and well-being which are appropriate for the age group.

"The questions in the original survey were difficult to justify and there were things there you wouldn't ask adults about.

"There were concerns some of the questions could normalise sexual activities that were very harmful.

"At no point is anyone claiming we can’t talk about sex with young adults but it has to be done with a level of sensitivity."

It is understood the survey will be rolled out again to schools in its new form in the coming days.

Councillor Dowling added: "This is the responsibility of the Scottish Government which issued the survey and then passed the buck to local authorities.

"The buck should stop with the Scottish Government.

"The time it has taken officers to respond to the concerns would have been better spent on other matters."

Originally, council chiefs were adamant the original questionnaire would be distributed in its entirety after several other local authorities redacted some questions or pulled the consultation altogether.

However, they then performed a U-turn as complaints from angry parents mounted.

Children were asked some questions in the original survey that have been deemed "difficult to justify" (PA Archive/PA Images)

A council spokesman said: “Following consultation with school communities and partners, we have decided the national health and well-being survey can continue with revised questions on sexual health and relationships in the S4, S5 and S6 questionnaires.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Surveys like this one play a crucial role in ensuring young people have access to the help, advice and services they need.

“Parents/carers and children and young people are informed of how their data will be used in advance of any taking part in the census and they can decide to opt out.

"If children and young people do take part, they can skip any question.

“The questions for each stage are age-appropriate. For example, questions on relationships and sexual health are asked of young people in S4 and above. However, councils are free to remove questions they do not wish to ask.

“We fully support the administration of this important, voluntary census."

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