Schools’ increasing role as sex education provider

Schools’ increasing role as sex education provider

Many young people want much more from their school regarding sex and relationship education.1,2,3

Surveys from the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU), from 1983-2005, routinely asked young people about their sources of sex education.

In an OFSTED report (2007)4, which drew heavily on SHEU findings, we showed very clear signals that young people's main source of sex information had undergone a profound shift from the home and towards school lessons. The question was dropped as 'standard' in 2005, however, the charts 1 & 2 below have been extended to 2010 with more recent data from smaller samples.

Chart 1. The percentages of pupils stating that their main source of sex information
is from parents, 1983–2010

chart1sexed.png

o — Yr 8 M —¡ — Yr 8 F —n — Yr 10 M —l — Yr 10 F

 

Chart 2. The percentages of pupils stating that their main source of sex information
is from teachers or lessons, 1983–2010

chart2sexed.png

 

1 UK Young People's Parliament (2008). Are you getting it? London: UKYP.

2 Sex Education Forum (2008). Key findings: Young people’s survey on sex and relationships education. London: NCB/SEF.

3 Sex Education Forum (2011). Young people’s experiences of HIV and AIDS education. London: NCB/SEF.

4 OFSTED (2007). Time for Change? Personal, social and health education. London: OFSTED.