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Sex services in schools defended Pupil sex health clinics defended
(about 2 hours later)
Parents are not in the dark on sexual health services available to pupils after a study found 29% of schools have sex clinics, a national authority says. Sexual health clinics are available in nearly 30% of secondary schools in England, according to a survey.
The survey, by the Sex Education Forum, found schools were offering services such as the morning-after pill and screening for some sexual diseases. Research by the Sex Education Forum suggested one in six on-site clinics offered the morning-after pill, and all provided condoms or pregnancy tests.
The findings have angered some parents' campaigners, who said they were being left "out of the loop". The results had angered some parents' campaigners who said they were being left "out of the loop" by schools.
But a forum spokeswoman said parents would have been consulted. But the forum said the majority of schools would have talked to parents or governors before setting up clinics.
Parents with children in those schools will know that the support services will involve sexual health advice and what the range of services on offer are Lucy EmmersonSex Education Forum Lucy Emmerson, a senior development officer at the forum, said: "Parents with children in those schools will know that the support services will involve sexual health advice and what the range of services on offer are. If good quality sex education starts early enough, it can be part of the solution to problems of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease Brook chief executive Simon Blake
The forum, a national umbrella group which promotes sex education, carried out a survey in which 29% of schools in local authorities which responded said they had on-site sex clinics. "Also, health professionals always encourage the young person to talk to their parents about any problems they are experiencing," she said.
It sent questionnaires to local authorities across England and 70% responded. But Ms Emmerson added it would be illegal for a school to breach a patient's right to anonymity.
One in six offer the morning-after pill or tests for diseases like chlamydia, while all those with clinics provided condoms or pregnancy tests. Her report will be published on Tuesday.
Lucy Emmerson, a senior development officer at the forum, said the majority of schools would have consulted parents or governors before setting up clinics. The forum, a group which supports the development of sex and relationship education in schools, sent questionnaires to local authorities across England, of which 70% responded.
She said: "Parents with children in those schools will know that the support services will involve sexual health advice and what the range of services on offer are. The survey also found one in six schools with clinics provided tests for diseases like chlamydia.
We would say that this is the end of innocence Andy HibberdParent Organisation A report in the Observer newspaper suggested one in 20 school-based clinics were providing prescriptions for contraception without parents being informed. We would say that this is the end of innocence Andy HibberdParent Organisation
"Also, health professionals always encourage the young person to talk to their parents about any problems they are experiencing." Co-founder of the Parent Organisation support group Andy Hibberd said: "It is not a problem that children are getting sex advice in school but the fact that parents are being intentionally cut out of the loop is wrong.
But, she added, it would be illegal for a school to breach a patient's right to anonymity, she added.
However, Andy Hibberd, co-founder of the Parent Organisation support group, said: "It is not a problem that children are getting sex advice in school but the fact that parents are being intentionally cut out of the loop is wrong.
"If they want the morning-after pill, the school will sanction that and the parent will never know."If they want the morning-after pill, the school will sanction that and the parent will never know.
"We would say that this is the end of innocence.""We would say that this is the end of innocence."
It comes after official figures for England and Wales found the number of abortions among girls aged under 16 rose by 10% to 4,376 in 2007. But forum member Brook, a young people's sexual health advice charity, said the survey results were "brilliant news".
In the under 14s, abortions rose by 21% from 135 in 2006 to 163 last year. Brook chief executive Simon Blake said: "All the evidence shows that if good quality sex education starts early enough, it can be part of the solution to problems of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease."
The number of abortions in all women rose by 2.5% to reach an all time high of almost 200,000. The survey comes after official figures for England and Wales found the number of abortions among girls aged under 16 rose by 10% to 4,376 in 2007.
In the under 14s, abortions rose by 21% from 135 in 2006 to 163 last year. The number of abortions in all women rose by 2.5% to reach an all time high of almost 200,000.
In response, government advisers called for high quality sex education at school and investment in contraception services for young people.In response, government advisers called for high quality sex education at school and investment in contraception services for young people.