Concerns raised over PSHE content in Bridgend schools

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called for an immediate review of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons in Bridgend, following reports that pupils were taught about sexual practices involving choking.

Natasha Asghar MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, has written to Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, requesting urgent clarification and action. The lessons, she claims, could risk normalising “harmful, misogynistic behaviours” among young people.

Ms Asghar said she was particularly concerned about the message such lessons might send to young girls and warned of the potential influence of violent pornography on youth culture.

“This is a matter of great urgency. Schools should be places of learning, not environments where harmful behaviours are taught or normalised,” she said.

“This is an alarming indication of the cultural shift towards violent and demeaning acts towards women and young girls being perceived as acceptable. Our education system must actively counter such trends, not contribute to them.”

The Welsh Conservatives have called for Bridgend County Council to work closely with domestic abuse charities, such as Welsh Women’s Aid, and with survivors of abuse, to ensure that sex education lessons are delivered appropriately and sensitively.

“These sensitive and serious topics should be addressed with care and expertise, not reduced to PowerPoint presentations,” Ms Asghar added. She has requested a ministerial statement in the Senedd next week.

Calls for context and clarity

The Welsh Government has not yet responded to the claims. It is currently unclear which materials or lesson plans were involved, or whether the lessons were part of approved curriculum guidance.

Sex education in Wales is now taught under the new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) framework, which became mandatory in 2022 and aims to provide age-appropriate, inclusive and factual information to pupils across all schools.

Supporters of the new framework say it aims to equip young people with knowledge about consent, respectful relationships and personal safety. Some experts argue that avoiding topics like pornography or rough sex may leave young people unprepared or misinformed.

The Herald understands that some education professionals have defended the inclusion of difficult topics—such as choking or coercive sexual behaviour—when taught responsibly and in age-appropriate ways, as a way of tackling myths, preventing harm and encouraging discussion around consent.

Bridgend County Borough Council has not commented publicly on the matter, but the issue is likely to be raised formally in the Senedd next week.

POLICE are investigating the theft of a motorbike from the A470 near Storey Arms, close to Brecon.

The Lexmoto LXR, described as blue and silver in colour, was awaiting recovery when it was stolen sometime between 9:00pm on Tuesday (Apr 8) and 11:00am on Wednesday (Apr 9).

Officers are appealing to anyone who was travelling along the A470 during that time and may have seen anything suspicious.

Dash cam footage could be especially helpful to the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police via:

| Online form
| 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk
| 101

Quote reference: 25*307219

A HAVERFORDWEST man has admitted assaulting a woman following an incident in the town earlier this year.

Kieran Vaughan, aged 37, of Caradoc Place, appeared at Swansea Crown Court charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in connection with an incident on March 8.

While Vaughan denied the more serious charge, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault by beating.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court: “That’s acceptable to the Crown because the complainant has withdrawn her support.”

Judge Geraint Walters adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report. Vaughan will be sentenced on May 15.