Children as young as five could be given compulsory sex education, it was revealed yesterday.

The prospect emerged as ministers unveiled a review of Sex and Relationship Education in primary and secondary schools.

A panel will examine "the right age to begin teaching what the key messages are and content that young people should receive at each key stage".

The group will make recommendations to the Government later in the year without first consulting the public.

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Panel members include representatives from the Family Planning Association, Brook Advisory Centres, HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust and the Sex Education Forum.

Critics warned that the review is an attempt to introduce by stealth a more explicit sex education programme for young children.

They fear the panel will rubber-stamp an official report from Government advisers in 2006 which said sex education lessons should on the curriculum in all primary schools.

At present, primary heads and governors decide whether or not to provide sex education and what it should involve beyond the compulsory science requirements laid down in the National Curriculum.

They must have a policy on whether or not they provide sex education.

If they do provide it, parents have the right to withdraw their children.

The 2006 report by the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy and the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV said sex and relationship lessons should be compulsory in all schools.

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