Carmarthenshire's sex education approach praised
Carmarthenshire’s innovative approach to sexual health education has led to national recognition.
InterseXion, a national magazine for sexual health and education in Wales, featured Carmarthenshire’s peer-led approach to educating young people about sexual health.
Run as a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywel Dda Health Board, the programme sees students delivering an educational programme to fellow students who are the same age, or slightly younger than themselves.
A county comprehensive school has recently participated in a study to assess the impact of the programme, where year 12 pupils were trained and delivered three sex education lessons to younger pupils in year eight.
The results were positive, and responses from both year eight and year 12 pupils questioned following the programme reported a significant increase in knowledge of topics including sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), contraception, and issues of sexual orientation.
Lynn Edwards, Healthy Schools officer for Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “We’ve been very encouraged by the response to the peer-led education programme, and are delighted that Carmarthenshire has been recognised at a national level for this innovative approach.
“It has been a true partnership approach, with colleagues from the authority and Hywel Dda Health Board working side by side to deliver this programme.
“Results from our local study has identified that peer-led education has been a positive approach, and has helped to change the attitudes of the younger pupils, and the older students who were trained to deliver the programme.”
Anna Bird, Children and Family Services, Hywel Dda Health Board, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with partners to evaluate this innovative approach. Improving sexual health and wellbeing is a key priority in the move towards upstream prevention and wellbeing and it’s fantastic that young people are being proactive in disseminating prevention information to their peers.”
Cllr Gywnne Wooldridge, executive board member for children and young people, said: “Attitudes towards sexual health education have changed hugely over the years, and we have to be forward-thinking in our approach to teaching young people about their sexual health.
“This approach has clearly worked, and I look forward to seeing the programme rolled out to other schools across the county.”
For further information about the project, and for further information about the support services available for sexual health, call Lynn Edwards on 01267 246622.
InterseXion, a national magazine for sexual health and education in Wales, featured Carmarthenshire’s peer-led approach to educating young people about sexual health.
Run as a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywel Dda Health Board, the programme sees students delivering an educational programme to fellow students who are the same age, or slightly younger than themselves.
A county comprehensive school has recently participated in a study to assess the impact of the programme, where year 12 pupils were trained and delivered three sex education lessons to younger pupils in year eight.
The results were positive, and responses from both year eight and year 12 pupils questioned following the programme reported a significant increase in knowledge of topics including sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), contraception, and issues of sexual orientation.
Lynn Edwards, Healthy Schools officer for Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “We’ve been very encouraged by the response to the peer-led education programme, and are delighted that Carmarthenshire has been recognised at a national level for this innovative approach.
“It has been a true partnership approach, with colleagues from the authority and Hywel Dda Health Board working side by side to deliver this programme.
“Results from our local study has identified that peer-led education has been a positive approach, and has helped to change the attitudes of the younger pupils, and the older students who were trained to deliver the programme.”
Anna Bird, Children and Family Services, Hywel Dda Health Board, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with partners to evaluate this innovative approach. Improving sexual health and wellbeing is a key priority in the move towards upstream prevention and wellbeing and it’s fantastic that young people are being proactive in disseminating prevention information to their peers.”
Cllr Gywnne Wooldridge, executive board member for children and young people, said: “Attitudes towards sexual health education have changed hugely over the years, and we have to be forward-thinking in our approach to teaching young people about their sexual health.
“This approach has clearly worked, and I look forward to seeing the programme rolled out to other schools across the county.”
For further information about the project, and for further information about the support services available for sexual health, call Lynn Edwards on 01267 246622.
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