Facing up to the facts of life

The number of teenagers becoming pregnant in Bolton is among the highest in Greater Manchester.

The latest statistics paint a shocking picture. In 2004, 298 girls under the age of 18 fell pregnant in Bolton, a record high for the borough.

In 2005, the number was 291, with some new mums as young as 12.

More than a third of those had an abortion, figures which are again among the worst in the North-west.

Yet despite these startling facts there seems to have been little change to the sex education children receive in school. The national curriculum focuses on the reproductive system - foetal development and the physical changes of adolescence - while information about contraception and safe sex is at the discretion of the school.

This is in contrast to France, where it is mandatory for schools to spend a lot more time on the subject - focusing on practical advice and even passing out condoms in class.

In Germany, education centres not only focus on the physical side of reproduction, but also sexual activity, partnership, homosexuality, unwanted pregnancies, the complications of abortion and sexually transmitted diseases.

With the pressures of the national curriculum in the UK, schools are hard pressed to find the time to devote to the subject and many balk at the controversy it can create.

Some teachers claim it is easier to avoid rather than face the backlash from parents and religious groups.

However, Harper Green School, in Farnworth, has developed an internal policy with the support of parents and governors.

It focuses on everything from teaching pupils in lower years about relationships to explaining the dangers of sex to teenagers in upper years, including sexually transmitted diseases.

Sara Cain, assistant headteacher, said: "Our policy works well in Personal Social and Health Education classes, which are the perfect forum to discuss the subject.

"I can understand the difficulties some schools may have in teaching the subject and I have spoken to teachers in other schools who are uncomfortable, because of their own personal beliefs.

"But sex education is important and maybe in this case something does need to be done from the top."

Stephanie Jones, who was a teenage mum, says it is of utmost importance to develop a national policy on sex education.

The former Little Lever High School pupil was 16 when she discovered she was pregnant.

Stephanie, now aged 20, from Breightmet, said: "I'm sure we did have sex education, but I don't really remember what was said. There is more to sex education than knowing how a child is produced.

"Young people just think it won't happen to them.

"The worst thing anyone can do is pretend young people do not have sex.

"They do and it needs to be addressed."

Stephanie is one of the lucky ones, she has managed, with the support of her family and partner, to return to education and has career ambitions .

"But there are many teenage mums who are now stuck and have no ambitions," she said.

Stephanie believes the best form of contraception is giving all teenagers a chance to look after a virtual baby.

The life-like computerised dolls cry just like any normal baby - for attention, for food or because they need their nappy changing.

It is up to the virtual baby's carer to identify the problem and then act on it - by feeding it, changing its nappy or simply by giving it some love.

She said: "Babies might look cute, but teenagers need to understand what hard work being a parent really is.

"It would make youngsters think twice."

Recent reports in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care have said the use of virtual babies actually increases many young girls' desire to get pregnant. It is a claim unanimously dismissed by pupils at Canon Slade CE School.

Since the beginning of the year, children on the school's Certificate of Personal Effectiveness course have been taking the "dolls" home.

Ian Parkinson, head of applied studies at Canon Slade, said the project has been a success.

He says it has generated interesting debate on ethical issues, held in religious education lessons, of when to have a baby and the consequences of having a child at a young age, or outside a family environment.

Mr Parkinson said: "Not one pupil who has looked after the child, be it overnight, or for a weekend, has asked if they can take it again. This experience is empowering for children, which is a better way for them to make decisions."

Charlotte Kemp, aged 16, who has cared for a virtual baby, said: "It does put you off having children at a young age and shows how important it is to have the support and family environment to be able to bring up a child."

Bolton Council's teenage pregnancy unit has focused its own policy for schools on this concept of empowering children to make their own decisions. The team, together with colleagues nationally, is lobbying the Government to improve the sex education curriculum .

It is also organising courses for teachers on how to deliver sex education and setting up classes for parents on how they can broach the subject.

Jayne Littler, teenage pregnancy co-ordinator, said: "Research goes against the thought that teaching pupils about sex encourages them to have sex.

"Our focus is empowering pupils and letting them discuss and debate the issues and make their own decision with confidence.

"Schools in Bolton do want to teach their pupils about the subject and many have come on board. The policies being developed are also sensitive to religious and cultural beliefs, together with the governing body and parents."

Cllr Rosa Kay, Bolton Council's executive member for schools, said: "There is often a conflict with parents over teaching sex education, but we cannot ignore the subject. National Government guidelines would help in developing an effective sex education, but it would have to go out to consultation so parents can have their say."