Sex education in Halton secondary schools

One teacher from each of the secondary schools and four special schools in Halton district completed a questionnaire in a semi-structured interview on sex education in their schools. The results showed that a variety of programmes took place but frequently teachers did not feel adequately prepared to teach this vital but difficult subject. Strengths of the programme included the popularity of parent's evenings to discuss sex education programmes, pastoral syllabuses followed by form tutors, 'student led' sex education programmes and the development of personal and social education courses. Difficulties encountered included a lack of on-going sex education programmes, a lack of sex education in the second year when teenage pregnancies were occurring and a lack of teacher training.