Pupils should get after-school sex education tailored to their experiences, say academics

Polly Curtis, health correspondent
The Guardian
Feb. 10, 2007

Pupils should be taught sex education based on their sexual experience, academics suggest in a radical departure from current methods. Their survey of the sex lives of 13 to 16-year-olds concludes that the range of sexual experience among teenagers is so varied that safer sex cannot be encouraged with one standard model of sex education.

"Some boys are still playing with Lego while others are already having sex, think they know it all but say that contraception is the girl's problem", said Louise Wallace of Coventry University.

The study published in the Journal of Health Psychology concludes that while streaming in schools might be too difficult because of "ethical" considerations - and resistance from pupils who might not offer an honest assessment of their sexual experience - it could happen in after-school youth groups. They are also suggesting sex education with CD-roms, which pupils could also use privately.

Britain has the worst rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe and cases of sexually transmitted infections - especially chlamydia - are soaring among young people.

The researchers surveyed 3,800 13 to 16-year-olds to assess their sexual experience and condom use. A quarter had already had sex and most did not use condoms the first time, while 55% said they used contraception every time. The longer teenagers wait to have sex the more likely they are to use a condom. The vast majority of pupils who had not yet had sex said they would use a condom, but half did not when they lost their virginity. And 5.6% said they were waiting to get married before losing their virginity.

The researchers say whole-class education might be appropriate for basic advice on using condoms and where to get them, and that condoms should be available in all schools, but "simply teaching the facts of condom use is insufficient".

They conclude: "Rather than try to address the diverse needs of whole classes with such a range of variation in experience, it may be more appropriate and effective to focus on attitude formation and behaviour change tailored to the young person's personal history and current readiness to adopt safer sexual practices or delay sexual intercourse."

Professor Wallace said: "Much of the teaching in schools is too biologically-based. Teachers should be trained how to teach teenagers skills so they can negotiate effectively, handle condoms and access services. The teen pregnancy crisis will only be resolved when pupils are given sex and relationship education that equips them with the knowledge and skills to inform their choices." Parents need training on how to educate their children on sex and overcome their own embarrassment, she added.

The team hopes to develop a CD-rom for schools, modelled on a computer game for pupils according to their sexual experience. CD-roms have been developed to educate children against drug use.

A spokesman for Brook, the sexual health charity for young people, said schools needed to start teaching sex education much earlier. "One effective way of tailoring the information ... is for schools to offer additional sessions outside the classroom, targeted at smaller groups of friends who tend to have similar levels of knowledge and experience."