Agenda item

(1)       Dr T Robinson moved Ms C J Cribben seconded the recommendation contained in the report.

 

(2)       The County Council viewed a DVD on an abridged version of the Channel 4 programme “Let’s Talk Sex” and copies of the UK Youth Parliament report on Sex Relationships Education – Are You Getting It?” were circulated in the Chamber. 

 

(3)       RESOLVED that:-

 

(a)       the report and the recommendations contained therein, attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes, be approved; and

 

(b)       the Select Committee be thanked for producing a relevant and balanced report.

 

Carried without a vote

Appendix 1

 

Recommendation 1

 

That all those dedicated individuals working to provide young people in Kent with high standard sexual health services be commended.

 

 

Recommendation 2

 

The Committee urges that all key agencies be wholly committed and signed up to the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in an effort to decrease the rate of teenage pregnancy.

 

 

Recommendation 3

 

The Committee endorses and supports all the efforts of the Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership.  It recommends expanding the Partnership’s reach to all the young people in Kent by further promoting its sexual health services in places young people frequent.

 

 

Recommendation 4

 

The Committee strongly recommends the broad production, promotion and distribution of discreet information on local sexual health services and support.

 

 

Recommendation 5

 

The Committee recommends that all partner agencies involved must facilitate the expansion of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, to ensure full screening coverage of all sexually active young people in Kent under the age of 25.

 

 

Recommendation 6

 

That GUM clinics must replace appointments with a “walk in” service.  The Committee insists that the proportion of Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic attenders offered an appointment within 48 hours of contacting the service must reach 100% by 2008. 

 

 

 

Recommendation 7

 

That the number of school nurses working in secondary schools in Kent be increased, and that the number of accessible, confidential and young people friendly sexual health clinics in all secondary schools in Kent be raised by at least one per cluster by 2008.

 

 

Recommendation 8

 

The Committee commends and supports all those working with disengaged, vulnerable young people, and urges the effective re-integration of more young mothers and fathers into school to complete their statutory education.

 

 

Recommendation 9

 

The Committee recommends that all schools in Kent work towards Healthy Schools validation by March 2009, through a process which is all inclusive to parents and governors.

 

 

Recommendation 10

 

The Committee strongly recommends a strategy for a more consistent and systematic Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) delivery, that is coupled with more robust assessment and monitoring methods, and that is adopted in all primary and secondary schools in Kent.

 

 

Recommendation 11

 

The Committee urges that the new RE and Citizenship Advisor remains permanently in place to ensure that one advisor is permanently and wholly responsible and accountable for PSHE in Kent.

 

 

Recommendation 12

 

That PSHE certificates for both teachers and nurses be widely promoted and supported.  That each school cluster in Kent has a PSHE lead and each secondary school in Kent has at least one PSHE certified teacher.  That PSHE awareness be raised through a countywide multi-agency conference, which includes all the decision makers, by March 2008.

 

 

Recommendation 13

 

The Committee strongly urges the County Council to press Government to make PSHE statutory and therefore part of the core curriculum, thereby ensuring that a selection of PSHE lessons are duly observed during inspections by Ofsted.

 

Recommendation 14

 

The Committee insists that all secondary schools in Kent ensure access to websites such as “foryoungpeople”, “RUthinking” and “Frank”, and that they provide permanent information on local sexual health services on a visible notice board.

 

 

Recommendation 15

 

The Committee recommends that school governors ensure that strong and consistent sex and relationships education within a PSHE framework is delivered.  That SRE be taught appropriately from primary school and by specialist teachers.

 

 

Recommendation 16

 

The Committee strongly recommends that the “relationships” aspect of SRE be emphasised more than the biological aspect, and that, in order to reflect this emphasis, the name “sex and relationships education” be changed to “relationships and sex education”.

 

 

Recommendation 17

 

That the nature of SRE lessons reflects equality of responsibility between boys and girls, and therefore that it has a stronger focus on young men and on their attitudes and responsibilities when negotiating sexual relationships.  That it be considered to teach particular aspects of SRE in single-sex groups.

 

 

Recommendation 18

 

The Committee commends that schools encourage greater involvement of both pupils and parents/carers in the planning and evaluation of SRE programmes.