More children learn about sex from teachers than friends

MORE children in Scotland now get most of their information about sex from school rather than from their friends or family, according to a new study.

Nearly a half of 15-year-old boys, at 49 per cent, and 34 per cent of girls, said they got their information from school compared to 29 per cent and 23 per cent in 2002.

Another 28 per cent of boys, and 32 per cent of girls said they got their information from friends, and just 9 per cent of boys and 14 per cent of girls found out about sex from parents.

The Edinburgh University study, funded by NHS Health Scotland, also found young people who report school as their main source of information were less likely to have had sex than those who say they get their information from their parents or friends.

Just 18 per cent of boys and 23 per cent of girls who report getting their information from school have had sex.

That compares to 41 per cent of boys and 43 per cent of girls having sex, who had got their information from friends.

Researchers also said 76 per cent of girls found it easiest to discuss sex with a friend compared to 71 per cent of boys.

In contrast, just 13 per cent of boys and 12 per cent of girls said parents were the easiest person to talk about sex with. And only 3 per cent of boys and 1 per cent of girls found a teacher was best to discuss such matters with.

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Researcher Jo Kirby, of the University of Edinburgh's Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, said: "This paper highlights the impact of the increasing prevalence of information provided about sexual matters to young people at school.

"Improving teacher-pupil communication about sexual matters may further increase the benefits associated with sex education in schools."

Controversy was sparked a year ago when Glasgow revealed a new approach to sexual health education in schools which would begin with children as young as four.

However, critics warned it would be too much for children of such a young age to cope with.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government values the provision of good quality sex and relationships education in schools.

"As this report shows, schools can and do make a difference in educating our young people about relationships, sexual health and parenthood but they cannot do it on their own."

The survey was carried out in 300 schools across Scotland and questioned more than 2,000 pupils aged 15.

The research is part of a wider Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, an international survey by the World Health Organisation involving more than 40 countries in Europe and North America.