Local government leaders have welcomed the government's decision to make sex and relationships education compulsory in all secondary schools.
Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said the focus should be on giving children the knowledge they need to cope with the challenges they face.
She said the lack of compulsory sex and relationships education in academies and free schools was creating a 'ticking sexual health time bomb'.
Education secretary Justine Greening this week tabled amendments to the Children and Social Work Bill now going through parliament which would require all secondary schools in England to teach relationships and sex education.
A new subject of ‘relationships education’ in primary school and renaming the secondary school subject ‘relationships and sex education’ would emphasise the central importance of healthy relationships.
Cllr Seccombe said: 'We are pleased that the government has listened to our call for sex and relationship education to be made compulsory in all secondary schools, which can help to reduce the high number of sexually transmitted infection diagnoses in young people.'
She added: 'We believe that making SRE compulsory in all secondary schools, not just council-maintained ones, could make a real difference in reversing this trend, by preparing pupils for adulthood and enabling them to better take care of themselves and future partners.'