Pupils appeal for 'birds and bees' advice (From Worcester News)

Pupils appeal for 'birds and bees' advice

11:20am Saturday 16th February 2013 in News By Tom Edwards

Pupils appeal for 'birds and bees' advice

SEX education is set to be improved across Worcester-shire after a plea from young people.

Worcestershire County Council overwhelmingly backed a motion saying the curriculum needed to be changed so that teenagers could get better advice on relationships.

It follows a letter from the Worcestershire Youth Cabinet, the official voice of 11-18 year-olds in the county, sent to county councillors and headteachers flagging it up as a concern.

The UK Youth Parliament, the umbrella organisation for budding young politicians nationwide, did a survey revealing 47 per cent of pupils wanted better sex education. During a debate at County Hall, councillors said they would be pushing for changes to both the national curriculum and school policy in the county.

Councillor Andy Roberts said it was “a hugely important issue” and that he felt schools were falling behind in it. “I do feel there’s more that can be done for these young people, they’ve told us how they feel about it and we need to respond,” he said.

His motion, which was also signed by Coun Lucy Hodgson and Coun Tony Miller, said it is “imperative” pupils get better sex education as so many believe it does not meet their needs.

It calls for a period of consultation with the youth cabinet so they can establish what needs to happen to improve it. Councillor Liz Eyre, the cabinet member for young people, said: “The young people of Worcester-shire really do need our support in this area, I back it completely.”

Education chiefs will now kick-start a debate with members of the county’s youth cabinet as to what can be done to change sex education. After the meeting, Laura Corrall, participation and engagement support worker at County Hall, said: “At the end of November we had a ‘takeover day’ and as part of that members of the youth parliament went to Westmin-ster to debate the results of this consultation. It’s a national campaign being led by the young people, including those in Worcestershire.”