Press Release

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX, YOUNG PEOPLE TELL MINISTER

6 December 2007

Over half of young people have not been taught how to use a condom and wouldn’t know where to find their local sexual health clinic, according to a survey of over 20,000 young people. The findings will be brought to Jim Knight, Schools Minister, today (6th December) as part of a UK Youth Parliament campaign calling for sex and relationships education to be taught as a statutory part of Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) in schools.

In a letter signed by 100 sexual health experts, charity leaders, politicians and celebrity campaigners to a national newspaper the UK Youth Parliament calls for young people’s experiences of current sex and relationships education provision to form the basis of change to the curriculum. Among the signatories in the letter to The Times are the NSPCC, Terrence Higgins Trust, the National Union of Teachers, Chair of the House of Commons Health Committee Kevin Barron and Davina McCall.

Katrina Mather, Member of Youth Parliament for East Sussex, 15 years-old said,

‘Compulsory sex and relationships education is vital for all young people. I really can’t understand why the Government hasn’t done more to ensure young people’s right to access accurate information is being delivered.’

Andy Hamflett, Chief Executive of the UK Youth Parliament commented,

‘The evidence is crystal clear that this is an issue which can have a major impact on a young person’s life. The fact that the voices of thousands of young people are also being supported by so many charities with expertise in this field – and by the National Union of Teachers – adds yet further weight to the cause. The Government must know that they are out of step on this, and I hope that they move towards making a change in policy sooner rather than later.’

Other findings from the survey include:

• 40% rated the quality of their sex and relationships education as either poor or very poor
• 55% of all 12-15 year olds, and 57% of girls between the ages of 16-17 had not been taught how to use a condom, despite the Government’s recommendations
• 61% of boys and 70% of girls over the age of 17 reported not having received any information about personal relationships at school
• 73% felt that sex and relationships education should be delivered under the age of 13, with 56% of boys under 11 wanting sex and relationships education in primary schools