SEX education at schools across Southampton is being sharpened up following complaints about insufficient training and out-of-date resources. Health reporter Sarah Cole looks at the latest bid to drive down the city's high teenage pregnancy rate...

FOR many of us, sex education conjures up images of giggling schoolboys and uncomfortable biology lessons.

But in Southampton, it is definitely no laughing matter.

Health and education workers are battling hard to rid the city of its unwanted title as one of the country's worst teenage pregnancy black spots.

Latest figures showed schoolgirl pregnancies across Southampton are continuing to rise.

Figures revealed that 239 girls aged between 15 and 17 fell pregnant during 2002/03 - compared to 194 in 1999.

To hit government targets, officials in the city have until 2010 to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies by 55 per cent.

Now a survey of Southampton schools has highlighted the need to go back to basics by improving sex education in the classroom.

All 81 state schools across the city were sent questionnaires as part of an audit carried out by the University of Southampton's Centre for Sexual Health Research.

The findings, based on the views of head teachers, governors and sex education co-ordinators, reveal outdated materials and a lack of specialist training could be hindering the effectiveness of the current system.

Feedback included the fact that:

Over half of school sex education co-ordinators had received either none or very little training for the role.

School staff and governors wanted more advice about dealing with controversial topics such as homosexuality and abortion.

Four-fifths of primary school governor chairmen felt teenage pregnancy should start to be discussed at primary ages, although only three out of ten schools covered the topic at that stage.

Three schools questioned did not cover any aspect of contraception in their sex education programme.

One secondary school in a highly deprived catchment area did not deal with the issue of sexually transmitted infections until Year 11 (15-year-olds), by which time a quarter of pupils were probably sexually active.

Many sex education videos, books and other materials were outdated.

Not all co-ordinators and governors had read the latest government guidelines relating to sex education.

Report author Dr Roger Ingham found nearly all Southampton schools had sex education policies in place. However, monitoring of the policies was not widespread.

Questionnaires were sent to the chairmen of governing bodies, head teachers and sex education co-ordinators in all state schools across Southampton. The overall response rate was 45 per cent.

Generally, head teachers felt up-to-date resources and more staff training would help improve sex education.

Dr Ingham said: "It is clear that not all sex and relationships education co-ordinators or governors have read the latest guidelines for sex and relationship work.

"The extent of pupil involvement in evaluation of sex and relationships education work is relatively low.

"In line with the national perspective, the extent of discussion of pregnancy options, including abortion, is low."

As a result of the findings, city health and education officials are working hard to raise the profile of sex education in local schools.

It is hoped increasing access to information about relationships, sexual health and contraception will in turn help reduce the number of teen conceptions.

Ann Dyton, special educational needs inspector at Southampton City Council, said about a third of the city's schools had completed a nationally certificated course in teaching sex education.

More would be recruited as part of a rolling programme.

Meanwhile, every school in the city would have to complete a module of sex education as part of the government's Healthy Schools initiative.

Advisers were also on hand to help schools write their own policy on sex and relationship education, appropriate to pupils' ages, and contact numbers were available for staff requiring advice or materials.

"We do take sex and relationship education extremely seriously," she said.

"The schools are well aware of their own particular issues and there is some excellent work going on."

Sue Falconer, of Hampshire County Council's special educational needs department, said schools across the county were offered support and advice about sex and relationship education.

All schools were advised to follow government guidance issued in June 2000 but were expected to assess their own pupils' needs and consult with parents in developing their programme.

There were also termly newsletters and support meetings, training courses and specialist evenings.

"I am confident that in Hampshire we offer schools quality support and advice through a range of opportunities, networking and training," she said.

"An emphasis on meeting pupil's needs is at the heart of this along with partnership working."

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said: "I think the survey highlights the importance of good, comprehensive and up to date sex education in schools.

"However, better sex education in schools is not the sole answer to the question of sexual health among young people. There are a number of other factors; not least parents being involved."

Armed with a £190,000 government grant, agencies battling to reduce teenage pregnancies are also aiming to get more young parents into training, education and employment.

Achievements so far have included new clinics, a sexual health nurse for children and work with boys, young men and ethnic minority young people.

Access to emergency contraception has been improved, and a teenage pregnancy inclusion worker appointed.