Sexual choking advice 'was not used in classes'

A COUNCIL says it stepped in to remove choking from its sex education curriculum, which was drawn up by a domestic abuse service.

- JONATHON HILL

Bridgend County Borough Council denied teaching pupils about choking during sex after reports of a draft version of its sex education material intended to be used in schools was released to national press this month.

The draft sex education material drawn up by the council's domestic abuse service, Assia, included references to asking for consent before choking a sexual partner. The matter became so widely circulated that it was raised in Parliament this week.

The draft presentation intended for PSHE lessons for older teenagers aged 15-17 at secondary schools in Bridgend council's region was put together last year.

The initial presentation issued guidance like: "It is never okay to start choking someone without asking them first and giving them space to say no. Make it clear that they have a right to say no if they don't want to be choked and their no should be respected and if it's not respected that is sexual assault. Consent under threat is not consent. Consent should also happen every time sexual choking is an option, not just the first time."

After screenshots of the initial presentation emerged last week, it drew much criticism, including from Michael Conroy, the founder of Men at Work, which trains teachers how to deliver PSHE lessons. Mr Conroy claimed the material was a reaction to growing issues of violence within pornography.