Effective school-based sex education

School-based sex education can be an important and effective way of enhancing young people's knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. There is widespread agreement that formal education should include sex education and what works has been well-researched. Evidence suggests that effective school programmes will include the following elements:

• A focus on reducing specific risky behaviours;
• A basis in theories which explain what influences people's sexual choices and behaviour;
• A clear, and continuously reinforced message about sexual behaviour and risk reduction;
• Providing accurate information about, the risks associated with sexual activity, about contraception and birth control, and about methods of avoiding or deferring intercourse;
• Dealing with peer and other social pressures on young people; providing opportunities to practise communication, negotiation and assertion skills;
• Uses a variety of approaches to teaching and learning that involve and engage young people and help them to personalise the information;
• Uses approaches to teaching and learning which are appropriate to young people's age, experience and cultural background;
• Is provided by people who believe in what they are saying and have access to support in the form of training or consultation with other sex educators.

Formal programmes with these elements have been shown to increase young people's levels of knowledge about sex and sexuality, put back the average age at which they first have sexual intercourse and decrease risk when they do have sex. All the elements are important and inter-related, and sex education needs to be supported by links to sexual health services, otherwise it is not going to be so effective. It also takes into account the messages about sexual values and behaviour young people get from other sources, like friends and the media. It is also responsive to the needs of the young people themselves - whether they are girls or boys, on their own or in a single sex or mixed sex group, and what they know already, their age and experiences.