EDUCATION Secretary Bridget Phillipson sparked fury today after scrapping plans to stop under-9s being taught about sex.

New guidance from the Department for Education waters down Tory proposals telling schools not to teach pupils earlier than Year 5 about topics including porn and sexual assault.

The updated sex-ed rules now only “recommend” kids aren’t taught about sexual activities until their last two years of primary – leaving schools free to decide if they think it’s necessary.

Ms Phillipson’s guidance also ditches Tory plans to slap age limits on lessons about extreme sexual violence.

The previous government wanted kids to learn about the dangers of sick acts from Year 9 onwards.

But the Education Secretary claimed this was “too late”.

Tory Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott fumed: “This guidance weakens key safeguards, scrapping protections that prevented under-9s being taught about sex.

“Parents do not want young children to be exposed to porn and sexual assault far too early. Age limits must be put in place.”

Defending her new approach, Ms Phillipson said: “I want our children to be equipped to defy the malign forces that exist online.

“Schools and parents alike have a vital role to play, helping children identify positive role models and resist the manipulation too often used online to groom impressionable young minds.”

Teachers will now be told to focus on areas including porn and harmful AI “deepfakes”.

Kids will also get lessons on the misogynistic incel movement to fight back against the rise of toxic influencers like Andrew Tate.

Meanwhile, worried parents are still waiting for the government to publish its guidance on trans issues in schools.

The Tories promised to ban gender ideology being taught as fact in classrooms.

Labour’s updated guidance is expected by the end of summer.

Ms Trott blasted: “The DfE still hasn’t published vital guidance to protect gender-questioning children, a basic safeguard for women and girls.

“The Education Secretary says she wants to protect them, but without this guidance, the evidence says otherwise.”