Sex advice on choking 'was not used in classes,' says council

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

- JONATHON HILL

The council denied teaching pupils about choking during sex after reports of a draft version of their 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 last week.

The draft presentation intended for PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) education lessons for older teenagers aged between 15 and 17 at secondary schools within the Bridgend County Borough Council region was put together last year.

The initial presentation issued guidance like: “Consent should also happen every time sexual choking is an option, not just the first time.”

The presentation said: “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.”