Pornography, sexting and the nature of consent could be taught in all secondary schools as the government wants to make sex and relationships education compulsory.
The plans, drawn up the government, could broaden what youngsters are taught as it is believed that sexual bullying and sexting are now endemic across Britain.
It comes as 7 per cent of pupils aged between 11 and 16 admitted they had sent a sexual image to someone else.
Justine Greening, the education secretary, received letters from five parliamentary select committees asking for sex and relationships education to be a statutory subject.
The proposed lessons could be included in the Children and Social Work Bill, reports Sian Griffiths at the Sunday Times.
Local authority schools are obliged to teach and include sex education in the curriculum, while free schools and academies - which now make up more than 50 per cent of secondary schools - do not.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: 'High-quality education on sex and relationships is a vital part of preparing young people for success in adult life.
'It helps them make informed choices, stay safe and learn to respect themselves and others.
'Education on sex and relationships is compulsory in all maintained secondary schools, and many academies and free schools teach it as part of the curriculum.
'However, we are actively looking at options to ensure that all children have access to high-quality teaching of these subjects.'
A government source told the Sunday Times: 'Justine is clear that this is something that has to be looked at.
'It is not just a question of making it mandatory but also of what we should be teaching, including issues such as sexting and domestic violence.' Justine Greening (pictured) received letters from five parliamentary select committees asking for sex and relationships to be taught in schools
Sir Michael Wilshaw, who was the chief inspector of schools, has previously said that sexual bullying and sending texts about sex is 'endemic' across the country.
Speaking at the Education Select Committee in September, Greening said it was 'time they looked at how they do a better job' of teaching sex and relationship education.
She said: 'We have all seen the report that came out yesterday in relation to sex and relationship education and I think it is time that we looked to how we can do a better job.
'I also think that in the context of PSHE there is a real opportunity. I talked about advice and having the right kind of knowledge and skills.
'I think there is a real opportunity to make sure that that area plays a full role in helping our children come out of school not just knowing all the stuff that they need to know and having the right academic capabilities, but they are able to make informed choices about a variety of different areas that they will need to take a view on as they reach adulthood.'
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