Condoms slide at school for 13 tops

[tenlittlecygnets]

Ds is Year 9. Today in form time, the teacher showed them a slide from a company that promoted condoms for 13yos to 15yos.

I'm a bit shocked tbh.

Surely not at 13???!

They discussed abusive relationships in PHSE the previous day...

What would you think?

So what, just a big old advert projected onto the whiteboard saying "Durex, suitable for 13-15 year old!" When they weren't talking about reproduction or relationships in any way shape or form? Because that's what I think you're saying but I'm struggling to believe you.

Ha! same.

OP, I get it. It’s awful to think that younger teenagers, who seemed so young and childlike a few years ago, are having sex. But some of them are, and they need to be educated and safe. Information in schools is not presented context-free, it really isn’t.

So, spoke to the school. The form teacher said that they show slides/hand out info in registration that has been discussed in other subjects during the week. In PHSE they were discussing contraceptives so in form the class was shown a slide about the C-Card scheme:

'If you are aged between 13 and 24, you can sign up for a C-Card which gives you free condoms and lube. You can access the service whether you’re male or female and whatever your sexual orientation. It doesn't matter whether you’re having sex, thinking about having sex or if you’re just curious.'

Howver, the school also said that if Year 9 kids wanted condoms, they had to contact a member of staff first (safeguarding) - can't imagine that happening. But at least now the kids have the info to google C-card and contact them by email/the web, should they require condoms.

And it was without discussion! The teacher had several items to get through so put the slide up without introducing it.

So not a random slide but part of the PSE lessons are are having on contraception? So some discussion/ explanation had taken place in the lessons?

A lot of kids are having sex at 13. I know I was.

I taught my year 9’s about abusive relationships this week, totally normal for that year group. We’re doing contraception and sti’s after half term.

Stop pearl clutching op

I wouldn't be happy with condom adverts targeting kids as part of the school curriculum. Protection should obviously be discussed but no need to go into brands/be marketed at.

Durex did a survey recently - the average age people lose their virginity in the UK is 18, not 'everyone I know did it by 14'. I'm in my thirties and my peer group were 16-18.

I haven't yet heard in what way this class was an "advertisement"

I had sex a few weeks before my 14th birthday. I didn't use protection, because we didn't have a way of getting it. Luckily, I didn't get pregnant, but it was definitely a possibility. I think making condoms more available can only be a good thing.

It’s not an advert it’s information and there’ll be some in that year group that need it

My year 9s know a girl in their year at another school who is pregnant.

It's already too late for some. If they aren't going to have sex telling them how to get free condoms isn't going to change their mind. If the are, not having access to protection won't change their mind either.

When you say 'not done puberty' do you mean he hasn't been through puberty, or that they haven't studied it? The former, he might not have but some will, it's not unheard of for 12 year old boys to father children. The latter - it's covered in both science and PHSE in year 7 usually, and I think they cover some of it in primary as well.

I find the idea that you are concerned about a 13 year old being taught about contraception? Do you also worry about them being taught about sex in general? I covered the basics with my 12 year old but I'm pleased the school has time to go into it in more detail and that he also has the chance to ask questions he may be too embarrassed or uncomfortable to ask myself or his father (my husband).

Statistics show that early sex education reduces underage sex, unplanned pregnancies / abortions and also reduces STIs.

I was incredibly lucky to go to a school who not only taught the mechanics of sex, contraception and abortion but about abusive relationships, the importance of consent and that someone can remove their consent at any time, why the age of consent is what it is and why it's important. We were also taught about happiness and self respect in relationships and how sex isn't always about reproduction but about pleasure for both partners.

No one I know from school is any worse off for this and actually we all seem to have our heads screwed on. Very few unplanned pregnancies / sti cases etc.