The annual report of the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy welcomed an increase in the number of teachers qualifying to teach the sex and relationships education module. But it warned that this progress would be undermined unless the government ensured the status of the subject by making it part of the national curriculum.
Source: Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy, Annual Report 2003/04, Department for Education and Skills (Teenage.Pregnancy@dfes.gsi.gov.uk)
Links: Report (pdf) | TPU press release | Brook press release | FPA press release | Children Now report
Date: 2004-Dec
A survey examined the views of young people on sex and relationships. Both sexes found communicating about sex and relationships extremely difficult, compounded by a general lack of quality information. Those interviewed reported that the sex education they had received in school was poorly resourced and delivered, treated sex as a negative experience, and did not provide them with the tools to help them negotiate the complexities of personal relationships.
Source: Opinion Leader Research, Are You Ready?: Young people s views of sex and relationships, Family Planning Association (020 7923 5202)
Links: Report (pdf) | FPA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Nov
The government issued guidance on the provision of sexual health advice and treatment to children under 16. Doctors and health professionals should discuss with those seeking contraception the emotional and physical implications of sexual activity; and should seek to establish whether relationships prompting appeals for contraception were mutually agreed, or subject to coercion or abuse. The guidance reinforced patients' right to confidentiality in most cases: but the duty to maintain confidentiality was not absolute - where a health professional believed there was a risk to the health, safety or welfare of a young person which was so serious as to outweigh the right to privacy, they should follow agreed child protection protocols.
Source: Best Practice Guidance for Doctors and other Health Professionals on the Provision of Advice and Treatment to Young People under 16 on Contraception, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Guidance (pdf) | FPA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
Researchers said that sex education delivered by teenagers for teenagers could be a promising way forward for tackling some major sexual health problems.
Source: Judith Stephenson et al., 'Pupil-led sex education in England (RIPPLE study): cluster-randomised intervention trial', The Lancet 24 July 2004 (020 7424 4910)
Links: MRC press release
Date: 2004-Jul
A new book examined a wide range of issues related to sexuality, with particular emphasis on socio-legal aspects. Topics included the right to define one's sexuality; sexuality and same-sex relationships in law; the sexual abuse of children and the limitations of the law; and sexual freedoms versus protectionist debates.
Source: Belinda Brooks-Gordon, Loraine Gelsthorpe, Martin Johnson and Andrew Bainham (eds.), Sexuality Repositioned: Diversity and the law, Hart Publishing (01865 245533)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jun
A study explored what young women said about their first heterosexual intercourse. It sought to contribute to an understanding of young people s experiences and the impact of broader social factors on sexual health, and the connections between the two policy areas of violence against women and sexual health.
Source: Evelyn Gillan, In Love or Just Curious: Exploring young women s experience of first sexual intercourse, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships/University of Edinburgh (0131 651 1832)
Links: Brief (pdf)
Date: 2004-May
A briefing presented findings from key research on teenage pregnancy and parenthood. It covered teenage sexual behaviour, sources of sex and relationships information, preventing teenage pregnancy, and support for teenage parents.
Source: Teenage Pregnancy: Overview of the research evidence, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Apr