Press Releases

05 May 2008

Nearly fifty children a day call ChildLine because they feel under pressure to have sex or lack basic knowledge about sexual health, relationships, pregnancy and puberty, new figures show today (05 May 2008).  (1)

Children as young as 12 call to talk to a counsellor because they are worried they may be pregnant and lack the facts about safe sex, sexual relationships and peer pressure. Some of these calls come from girls who say they feel pressurised into having sex before they are ready. 

The latest figures from ChildLine - a service provided by the NSPCC - reveal a worrying level of pressure to have sex and a profound lack of sexual and relationship awareness among young people. A breakdown of statistics shows that boys are just as concerned as girls. Of 11,128 callers about puberty almost half (5340) came from boys. A further 6,488 young people called to talk about pregnancy.

One 16-year-old boy told ChildLine he had had unprotected sex with a girl for a dare and was now concerned he might have caught a disease. A 14-year-old girl said that her boyfriend wanted to have sex with her but she did not know how to do it. Another young girl rang to say she was worried she was pregnant after she didn't dare to say "no" to sex with her boyfriend in case he dumped her. *

Head of ChildLine Sue Minto said: "Children are in the dark about the biological and emotional aspects of sex. This leaves them without the knowledge and skills they need to make informed, responsible decisions about their actions, and so they are getting caught up in sexual situations that could have serious implications in their lives."

The release of the new figures coincides with a government review looking at the way Sex and Relationships Education is taught in schools in England. As part of this review, the NSPCC - a member of the Sex Education Forum - is calling for Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), which includes Sex and Relationships Education, to be made a compulsory part of the school curriculum in England and to be delivered by staff with specialist training.

As the law stands, schools in England (2) only have to teach the biological aspects of sex rather than discuss topics like emotions and relationships, what it means to be pressurised into having sex, and the consequences of risky behaviour. All of these topics form the cornerstone of PSHE.

Sue Minto continued: "Keeping children safe means giving them the appropriate facts about sex and emotions. This includes discussing peer pressure, relationships and love, and helping young people develop the skills and confidence to make the right decisions for them about sex and keep themselves safe from those who may want to abuse or exploit them.

"Parents also have a responsibility to talk to their children about sex and relationships. But they too need advice and support so they can tackle the subject in a confident and knowledgeable way.  (3)

"Children and young people must be armed with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe. We must not shy away from talking to them honestly and openly about the basic facts. PSHE should not be seen as an optional extra. Nor should it be the missing page in a young person's school textbook."

Ends

* All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect caller's identity

NSPCC media office on 0207 825 2835 out of hours 07976 206 625

Notes to editors

(1) Latest figures (1 April 2007- 31 March 2008) show 6,488 (5985 girls; 503 boys) children and young people called about pregnancy and 11,128 (5788 girls; 5340 boys) about the facts of life. A total of 17,616 children and young people.

(2) The NSPCC is calling for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) to be made a foundation subject for school children in England, alongside information and communication technology and physical education.

Lessons would include information on a range of health issues that are relevant to their age. This will help equip pupils to:

• Have a mature attitude towards sex in the context of relationships;
• Resist peer pressure and understand the importance of consent;
• Recognise abuse in coercive relationships;
• Understand exactly what sexual abuse is and how to protect yourself from abuse;
• Understand the law on sex

PSHE lessons would include life skills such as decision making, managing peer pressure and understanding risky behaviour.

In Scotland, the curriculum is non-statutory and responsibility for what is taught rests with local authorities and schools, taking into account national guidelines and advice.

In Wales, Personal and Social Education is a compulsory subject for all key stages.

(2)  The NSPCC is currently running a pilot campaign in Norfolk; 'Lets talk sex and good relationships' to encourage children and parents to talk to each other about sex and healthy relationships. 

ChildLine is the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people, with trained volunteer counsellors available to comfort, advise and protect.  In February 2006, ChildLine formally joined with the NSPCC in a move that will ensure even stronger services and a more influential voice for children of all ages.  The ChildLine service, now one of the NSPCC's listening services, still has the same well known telephone number - 0800 1111 - and children and young people can still call 24 hours a day and receive the same crucial service.

The Sex Education Forum is the national authority on sex and relationships education (SRE). It believes that good quality SRE is an entitlement for all children and young people and is working with its 50 member organisations - including religious, children's, parents and governor, health and education organisations - to achieve this.