Backlash over sex education failings

Backlash over sex education failings

A letter to The Times today has revealed widespread concern about the quality of sex education among organisations including the NSPCC, Family Planning Association, the Brook pregnancy advisory service and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

They point to a survey of 20,000 teenagers published today by the UK Youth Parliament, which found that more than half rated sex education teaching in school as average, poor or very poor. Nearly half of those surveyed said they had not been taught about the effects of teenage pregnancy and would not know where to find their local sexual health clinic.

The letter called for relationship teaching to be made a statutory part of the national curriculum, with the survey showing that the majority of pupils aged over 17 had not received any information on personal relationships at school.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 4 December 2007 page 1

Temps may get full work rights under EU law

Britain looks set to lose its fight to block a European Union directive to give temporary and agency staff the same pay and workplace conditions as permanent staff after six weeks in post.

Trade union leaders in the UK have campaigned for the law on the basis that it would end a two-tier arrangement in workforces, with agency staff on lower pay and conditions than permanent colleagues.

However, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, which represents agencies, warned that it may lead to cuts in the number of temping jobs available and said there was insufficient evidence of abuse of agency staff to justify the directive.

Source:- The Times Tuesday 4 December 2007 page 12

Sperm donor to lesbian couple forced to pay child support

A firefighter who donated sperm to a lesbian couple said yesterday that he was being made to pay child support for their son and daughter.

Source:- The Guardian, Tuesday 4 December 2007, page 3

 
Get tough drive to improve care homes for elderly that fail to offer quality service

The government will today tell local authorities to use their purchasing power to drive out of business any care home proprietor who fails to provide older people with a quality service, delivered with dignity and respect.

Source:- The Guardian, Tuesday 4 December 2007, page 6

 
Psychiatrist to face plagiarism charges at GMC hearing

TV psychiatrist Raj Persaud is to go before a General Medical Council panel hearing to decide if he should continue to practise.

Source:- The Guardian, Tuesday 4 December 2007, page 7

 
‘Outstanding’ special needs school is put under threat

A special needs school, rated “outstanding” by education watchdog Ofsted, has been earmarked for closures under plans drawn up by a Labour-dominated council.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 4 December 2007, page 12