Sir, Half the young people in the UK today have not been taught about teenage pregnancy and wouldn’t know where to find their local sexual health clinic.

These figures from a UK Youth Parliament survey of over 20,000 young people may go some way to explaining disproportionately high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in this country.

We believe that all children and young people are entitled to receive Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) as part of the statutory provision of Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE Education) in schools. No school should be able to opt out of delivering good Sex and Relationships Education to their pupils (including primary schools, faith schools and academies), which should be taught throughout a pupil’s time in education.

Only staff with specialist training should be charged with delivering such education, and relationships should be taught as part of SRE. Above all, young people’s experiences of the current Sex and Relationships Education provision must form the basis of any change to the curriculum.

Young people are bringing their findings and proposals on Sex and Relationships Education to Jim Knight, MP, Minister for Schools and Learners, this week. We urge the Government to listen to what they have to say and make changes on that basis.

Andy Hamflett, Chief Executive, UK Youth Parliament

Charlotte Atkins MP

Catherine Robinson, Assistant Director Children & Sexual Health Services, Ashton, Leigh & Wigan PCT

Annabel Kanabus, AVERT

Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP, Chairman, Health Committee

Dr Colm O’Mahony, Spokesperson, BASHH

Kieran Morgan, Director of Public Health, Bath & NE Somerset PCT

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