Wirral schools bring in pregnancy tests for pupils

Feb 4 2010 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

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She added: “National and international research evidences that if we are to improve young people’s sexual health and reduce the number of unplanned conceptions in young people under the age of 18, we must provide high quality sexual health education, and easy access to sexual health services for information and support.

“This is one of a number of local projects that aim to do just that.”

Ian Andain, headteacher of Broadgreen International School and chairman of the Liverpool Schools Forum, said students already had access to pregnancy tests at family planning clinics and the move would be a “natural addition to schools’ extended services”.

And the National Union of Teachers backed the plan “so long as health experts and not teachers run the clinics”.

Merseyside executive member, Julie Lyon-Taylor said: “It’s important teenagers have support like this available.”

But Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, which researches the causes of family breakdown, said: “Sexual health clinics on school premises send out the message that it is normal for school children to engage in sexual activity.

“In the past, natural inhibitions combined with fear of pregnancy, legal proceedings and being found out by parents offered a powerful disincentive to underage sex.

“But confidential health clinics in schools are part of a mix that is removing the restraints which previously limited underage sexual activity.”

Although Sefton pupils receive sexual health support and advice on contraception, no schools offer pregnancy tests.

But over-16s at colleges including Hugh Baird in Bootle, Southport College and King George V College in Southport have access to the provision.

And in Knowsley, some of its new secondaries, known as centres for learning, have clinics which include advice on sexual health. However, pregnancy testing is usually only available to students via referral to clinics away from the school sites.