STUDENTS at a Worcester school have been educating fellow pupils of the importance of sexual health as part of a training programme run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust.

A group of Years 10 and 12 students from Christopher Whitehead Language College have been taking part in a pilot training programme led by the Trust's Sexual Health Service.

They spent a day with a health promotion specialist within the service learning about a range of sexual health topics, from contraception to sexting.

They were then asked to lead a lesson on a topic of their choosing to pupils from year 8, helping them learn more about the dangers of unprotected sex, the risks associated with sexually transmitted infection and the importance of healthy relationships.

The feedback from all students and teachers involved in the programme was really positive.

Debra Newton, health promotion specialist, said: “The mentors achieved success beyond expectations and the year 8 students have given very positive feedback.

"Health promotion and early prevention are important aspects of improving health outcomes, including sexual health in society.

"We hope to roll this concept out with other local high schools and will help and encourage them to develop their own sex and relationship education peer mentoring programme.”

Neil Morris, the school's headteacher, said: “We are incredibly proud of all the students who have been involved with this peer mentoring teaching experience.

"It has been an opportunity for students in year 8 to receive quality education from older students on a sensitive yet important subject.”

As well as the invaluable experience, the students who took part in the programme have been awarded with a certificate from Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to show they have completed a Peer Mentoring Training Programme in Sexual Health.