Many countries, including the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand, have long had policies in place which aim to reduce teenage pregnancy rates Many of these policies focus on different ways of providing sex education. In some countries, such as the USA, there is a debate about whether sex education should be provided in schools at all, and several states provide only abstinence education. However, evidence suggests this has little impact on teenage pregnancy rates (Santelli et al. 2007).
In the UK, there have been debates in parliament about whether or not sex education should be made compulsory in schools, and about the content. Maintained secondary schools in England and Wales are required to provide sex education, where there is often a focus on biological aspects of sex and reproduction. Academies and free schools do not have to follow the national curriculum. Parents may withdraw their children from sex education lessons in any school.
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