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A
sex and relationships education programme, developed at the
Peninsula
Medical
School
in
Devon
and
Cornwall
,
has been supported by research carried out by the National Foundation
for Educational Research.
Added Power and Understanding in Sex Education, (APAUSE), is a
programme with a unique approach
to relationships and sex education in
secondary schools. APAUSE
has a multi-agency approach,
which develops the skills and confidence of
teachers, health professionals and young people as peer educators.
Currently involving approximately 30,000 young people annually in
130 schools across
England and Wales, APAUSE enables young people to
take control of their relationships, encouraging
them to understand the
importance of good relationships and empowers them to manage the levels
of intimacy to which they consent.
APAUSE
welcomes the rigorous evaluation of the programme by the National
Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) in 104 schools in 2003,
demonstrating a positive impact on young people’s sexual knowledge,
attitudes beliefs and behaviours.
Dr
John
Tripp
,
Consultant Paediatrician and APAUSE Director, said: “APAUSE is not an abstinence project, but does aim to provide
teenagers with the skills and confidence to delay sexual intercourse
until a time when they are sure that they are ready to make an informed
decision and do not pass this milestone because of pressure.
APAUSE creates a safe environment for frank, structured and
appropriate discussion, fostering pro-social values.”
“APAUSE
has been considered controversial, but it is time that we were realistic
about the need for an effective sex and relationships programme for
young people in the
UK
.
If adults continue to hide
their heads in the sand it is young
people who will pay the price.”
APAUSE
provides evidence of outcomes which show increases in knowledge and
understanding of
sex and contraception and engenders the development of
more mature attitudes. First
intercourse is
delayed and associated with better use of contraception
so that young people will be exposed to fewer
risks.
Dr
Tripp said: “Because
Britain
has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in
Europe
and rising rates
of sexually transmitted infections we need to
critically appraise the programmes on offer to young people.
Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection is not just a
statistic but a real experience for a disturbing number of young people
who through ignorance or lack of confidence find themselves experiencing
parenthood or illness with immediate and long term health, educational
and social consequences.”
The NFER report is an independent external review commissioned by the
Teenage Pregnancy Unit to evaluate the APAUSE programme.
The key findings of this report reiterated the positive outcomes
that APAUSE have reported over the last decade.
The NFER found:
“Overall,
the outcomes of the evaluation were positive; the majority of
respondents gave positive feedback, and the findings from the analysis
of APAUSE data provided evidence of a positive impact on young
people”.
“APAUSE
was highly valued for the involvement of peer educators and health
professionals”.
“The
majority of schools using APAUSE thought it was better than other sex
and relationships education provision and wanted to continue their
involvement.”
“APAUSE
was found to have a positive effect on knowledge (e.g. of Sexually
Transmitted Infections and contraception).
“APAUSE
students were less likely to be sexually active than comparison
students.”
“There
were tentative links between APAUSE and the use of contraception.”
Students
who reported that they had been taught about assertiveness skills (a
feature of APAUSE) were less likely to have had unprotected sex.”
NFER
reported that APAUSE has been enthusiastically welcomed by teachers,
health professionals, commissioners and young people.
Its flexibility has enabled adoption in independent, single sex,
faith, grammar and comprehensive schools.
Many schools use APAUSE as part of their National Healthy Schools
Standard work within PSHE & Citizenship to contribute to school
improvement, reduce health inequalities and promote inclusion.
APAUSE
continues to be refined and developed, based on the improving
theoretical understanding and feedback from stakeholders, practitioners
and young people. However
its sustainability (on its not-for-profit basis) currently relies on
central funding made available through Primary Care Trusts and Local
Authorities. Future
development and widespread implementation will only be possible with
dedicated central funding available to schools who wish to make this
programme available to their young people.
See
also our website www.ex.ac.uk/sshs/apause
Notes
To view or download the executive summary of the NFER report please use
the following link: www.nfer.ac.uk/htmldocs/Outcome_SRP.doc
(29/5/04)
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