As a Specialist Infant Feeding Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and mother of two school-aged children, I am passionate about ensuring that every young person leaves school with a basic understanding of one of the most remarkable biological processes in the human body: lactation.

Despite learning about reproduction, pregnancy, genetics, nutrition and human body systems, pupils in England receive little or no education about how the human mammary gland functions, how breast milk is produced, or the unique biological properties of human milk. This is a significant gap in the National Curriculum.

Human milk is far more than nutrition. It is a dynamic, living tissue containing antibodies, immune cells, hormones, enzymes, beneficial bacteria and human milk oligosaccharides that help shape an infant's immune system and gut microbiome. Research continues to uncover new and fascinating properties of human milk, making it an ideal topic through which to teach biology, physiology and human development.

Yet many people leave school believing that breast milk and infant formula are essentially equivalent, differing only in their source. While infant formula is a safe and nutritionally regulated alternative when breastfeeding is not possible or is not chosen, it cannot replicate the complexity of human milk. Every student deserves the opportunity to understand these biological differences through evidence-based education.

We are calling on the Department for Education to introduce age-appropriate teaching about human lactation, breast milk and infant feeding into the National Curriculum. This could include simple lessons in primary science about mammals feeding their young with milk, followed by more detailed teaching in secondary school and GCSE Biology covering the anatomy and physiology of lactation, the composition of human milk, infant immune development and the science of infant feeding.

Teaching this topic is not about telling families how they should feed their babies. It is about improving scientific literacy, enabling informed choices and helping to create a culture in which breastfeeding is understood, supported and normalised, while remaining respectful of every family's circumstances and decisions.

Countries with some of the highest breastfeeding rates, including Norway and Sweden, combine education with strong healthcare support, family-friendly policies and positive cultural attitudes towards breastfeeding. While curriculum changes alone will not transform breastfeeding rates, education is an important part of creating a society where people understand the biology of human lactation and can better support parents.

The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding continuation rates among comparable high-income countries. By ensuring that future generations receive accurate, evidence-based education about lactation and human milk, we can improve scientific understanding, challenge misconceptions and help build a more informed and supportive society.

Please sign this petition if you believe that human lactation deserves its rightful place in the National Curriculum.