Teenagers in Kent have said they want sex education lessons in schools to teach them more about the emotional side of relationships.

This was among the major findings of a survey of 4,000 children aged 15 to 20 carried out by the University of Kent.

The survey, which involved 37 schools in the county as well as focus groups and teenage parents, found 40% of teenagers claimed to have had sex.

"This is a major challenge across the UK," said Councillor Graham Gibbings.

One of the study's authors, Jenny Billings, said education was failing teenagers because it was not tailored to their needs.

"They know the physical side - they know how to put the condom on the banana, or whatever, in the classroom setting," she said.

"But they don't know about negotiating the sexual relationship."
Outside speakers

The report, which took two years to research, was commissioned and funded by Kent Teenage Pregnancy Partnership.

Ms Billings said there were four other major findings:

* Teenagers wanted more outside speakers in lessons instead of teachers.

* They wanted smaller classes so they could talk about the issues with less embarrassment.

* Girls and boys wanted to be taught in different groups and needed different information.

* Information should be drip-fed at different times rather than delivered in one big hit.

Mr Gibbings, Kent County Council cabinet member for public health, said it was planning a major publicity campaign for young people next year to emphasise the dangers of early unprotected sex.

"Teenage pregnancy rates in Kent are lower than the rest of England but this is a major challenge for the county council, as it is for all authorities across the UK.

"We have got to look at new methods and ideas for bringing to the attention of young people the terrible trauma of unplanned teenage pregnancy."