Brook's position on sex and relationships education

Brook believes that Sex and Relationships Education should be a statutory entitlement for all young people within the PSHE curriculum.

Research shows that combining effective sex and relationships education with access to confidential services is instrumental in delaying first sex and encouraging contraceptive use.

Sex and relationships education should be delivered within the broader context of personal, social and health education so that sex and relationships are linked to other lifestyle issues such as alcohol and drugs.

It should start early in childhood so that children learn to talk about feelings and relationships, and are prepared for puberty before it happens.

The Sex and Relationships curriculum should not just focus on information-giving but should help young people to develop the skills to act on the information they have been given and help them clarify their values and attitudes. Young people need to be specifically helped to develop the ability to recognise and resist pressure so that they can delay intercourse until they are ready for it; to develop healthy relationships; and to negotiate and practise safer sex.

Brook believes that to be effective sex and relationships education must be relevant and appropriate to the lives of young people, regardless of their family background or sexuality. The positive qualities of relationships, such as trust, respect and commitment, should be stressed rather than the promotion of one form of relationship or sexual orientation.

Brook is a member of the Sex Education Forum and endorses the Forum's belief that sex and relationships education should:

• be an integral part of the lifelong learning process, beginning in early childhood and continuing into adult life;

• be an entitlement for all children, young people and adults, and should meet the needs of boys as well as girls; those who are heterosexual, those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual; those with physical, learning or emotional difficulties; and those with a religious or faith tradition;

• encourage personal and social development fostering self-esteem, self-awareness, a sense of moral responsibility, and the confidence and ability to resist abuse and unwanted sexual experience.

Definition

'Sex and Relationships Education is lifelong learning about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships and sexual health. It involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive, beliefs, values and attitudes'. [1]

Research findings

Good, comprehensive sex and relationships education which starts before the onset of sexual activity does not make young people more likely to have sex. In fact it helps them to delay starting sex and makes them more likely to use contraception when they do. [2]

Young people repeatedly tell researchers that they believe the sex education they receive is too little, too late and too biological. They report too little discussion of social and emotional issues and that what little information they are given about sexually transmitted infections is not placed in the context of young people's lives.

The vast majority of parents are in favour of sex education in schools. A 1998 study found that 96% of parents want schools to provide SRE. They also believe that discussions of contraception and visits to local services should start at an earlier age than they do currently. [3]

One in three girls are not told about periods by their parents before they start menstruating. One in ten start their periods without receiving information from anyone at all. [4]

Over a quarter of 14-15 year olds surveyed in 1999 thought the pill protected against sexually transmitted infections. [5]

Until recently friends were as likely as schools to be young people's main source of information about sex. [6] However, the second National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles found for the first time that young people age 16-19 reported school based lessons as their main source of information about sex.[7]

Young people who learn about sex mainly from school are less likely to become sexually active underage than those whose family and friends are their main source of information. [8]

Brook provides free and confidential sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. Brook is a registered charity number 239966.