Closed petition Make female hormone health a compulsory part of the curriculum starting age 10

Closed on 4 November 2022

The Government should add the following mandatory content to the Health Education curriculum:
- The role of hormones on overall bodily functions at KS2
- Sex hormones and reproductive health, inc. menstrual cycle, fertility, different methods of contraception (pros and cons) at KS3

The average age of starting periods is 11, yet it’s not mandatory in year 5 to learn about puberty – schools are simply told to teach about it ‘before onset’. Also, when learning about menstrual cycles in KS4 biology, learning about hormones is not required.

According to a 2017 Plan International survey, 48% of girls felt embarrassed by their period - education at the right age would improve vocabulary, understanding and confidence.