A Presentation to Berkhamsted School Year 9 Parents on the Pressures facing Young People by The Principal, Mark S.Steed, on Thursday 29th November, 2013

1. Pressures on Young People
Sex, Drugs and Rock „n‟ Roll
[Well “Parties” – Ed]
A Principal’s Forum for Parents
Mark S. Steed, MA (Cantab.), MA (Nottingham)
Principal
Thursday, 29 November 2012

2. Tonight‟s Agenda
Body Image
Computer Games
Sex
Drugs
Alcohol
Parties
Berkhamsted‟s Approach
Open Forum

3. Young People‟s Agenda

4. Young People‟s Agenda

5. Young People‟s Agenda
Horoscopes Lads
Fashion &
Tune in
Beauty
Love & Stuff
Fun & Games Celebs

6. Young People‟s Agenda
Lifestyle
Weight Loss
Fitness Style
Nutrition
Health Sex

7. Pressures on Young People
Body Image

8. Pressures on Young People
Body Image
Dove - Onslaught
http://youtu.be/aJN-3yTr3KU

9. Pressures on Young People
Body Image
Dove - Evolution
http://youtu.be/5XF66Ku4a9U

10. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Body Image
PSHE
• Year 7 Eating and Exercise (Jan)
and Rights (Feb).
• Year 8 Self esteem,
Advertising and Situations.
• Year 9 Nutrition Talk, Eating
and Identity.
• Year 10 Identity.
• Year 11 Prejudice, Diversity
and Eating.

11. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Body Image
• Strong Tutorial system
• Peer Supporters
• Monitoring of Meals
• Counselling
• Monitoring and advice on
use of weights
• Strong links with external
agencies

12. Pressures on Young People
Computer Games

13. Pressures on Young People
Computer Games
• The average child aged 8
to 12 plays 13 hours of
video games a week
• The average child aged
12 to 14 plays 13 hours of
video games a week.
• The average young
person will have played
10,000 video games by
the age of 21

14. Pressures on Young People
Computer Games
Some Strategies
• No tech an hour before
bed.
• No tech upstairs.
• No Wii in the week.

15. Pressures on Young People
Sex

16. Pressures on Young People
Sex
• Women have their first sexual experience (as
opposed to sexual intercourse) at the age of
14 and men aged 13.
• 26% of women and 30% of men (aged 16-19)
report having sexual intercourse before the
age of 16.
• The majority of 16-19 year olds report their
first heterosexual intercourse aged 16
Source: The Government Funded National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles

17. Pressures on Young People
Sex
• 18% of men and 22% of women who had first
intercourse at 13 or 14 used no contraception
compared to 8% of men and 9% of women who had
first intercourse aged 16
• 25% of women under 16 at the time of their first
intercourse reported they did not attend a service for
contraception because they were worried about
confidentiality and 40% because of worries about their
age compared with 12% and 6% respectively of over
16s.
Sources: The Government Funded National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles
Brook Advisory Service Survey: Young people's sex advice services; delays, triggers and
contraceptive use

18. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Under-age Sex
• Sexual Intercourse
before the „Age of
Consent‟ is a reportable
offence
• We have a statutory duty
to report all such
incidents to the Social
Services Department

19. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Under-age Sex
Where we have clear evidence
of under-age sex
• We will inform Social
Services
• We will inform the parents of
both pupils involved
• We will offer counselling
BUT the School Nurse and
School Chaplain can be
approached in confidence

20. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Under-age Sex
• If one pupil is under-age,
we consider that pupil a
victim.
• This is not a disciplinary
issue if not “on our watch”.

21. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Under-age Sex
Key factors for Social Services
Department
• Is there a “Power Imbalance”
[i.e. age difference]?
• Was the act consensual?
• Has there been a formal
complaint?

22. Berkhamsted‟s Stance
Sex [Over 16] on Berkhamsted‟s watch
Any pupil [over 16] caught having sex
(or with the clear intention of so
doing)
• in school grounds/ or on school
trips
• when in the care of Berkhamsted
staff
is liable to be suspended or expelled

23. Drugs

24. Policy on Drugs
Two Approaches:
• “Fire and Forget”
– Zero Tolerance
– Expulsion for First Offence
• “Protect and Support”
– Protect the community
– Support Pupils and Parents

25. Policy on Drugs
• Education:
– PSHE programme
• Partnership:
– Working with Parents
• Sanctions:
– Testing Programmes
– Expulsion

26. Policy on Drug Dealing
Any pupils who
– sell drugs,
– possess them with intent to
supply,
– distribute them, whether on
or off the school premises,
in or out of term time
will be expelled.

27. The Compulsory Drugs Testing
Programme
Any pupil who is caught in
possession of drugs, or using
drugs, will be put onto the School
Compulsory Drug Testing
Programme
or, if parental co-operation is refused, will be
required to leave the School.

28. The Compulsory Drugs Testing
Programme
When on the Compulsory Drug
Testing Programme,
a confirmed positive test
result is very likely lead
to expulsion
regardless of when or where the
drugs were taken

29. The Voluntary Drugs Testing
Programme
• Suspicion of using drugs
• Parental support will be requested for them to be put
onto the Voluntary Drug Testing Programme.
• A confirmed positive test result will lead to being put
on the Compulsory Drugs testing programme
– regardless of when or where the drugs were taken

30. How the Drugs Testing Programmes
Work
• A simple urine test.
– Two samples will be taken at a
time.
– If the „in-house‟ sample is
positive, the second sample may
be sent for full laboratory testing.
• Tested at random intervals without
prior notification.
• The testing programme will be at the
parents‟ expense.

31. Policy on Drugs
• Support for Pupils
– A reason to refuse
• Support for Parents
– Offering testing facility
• Protecting our Community
– A clear message about drugs

32. Alcohol

33. Alcohol at Berkhamsted
Terms of Licence
• Sixth Form only
• Social context
• Cannot be sold
• Must be supervised by Staff
School Trips
• No alcohol on School Trips

34. Parties

35. “School” Parties outside Berkhamsted
• Issues:
– Parental Supervision
[or lack of]
– Availability of Alcohol

36. “School” Parties outside Berkhamsted
• We cannot take
responsibility for what
happens at these parties
• We cannot advise parents
on the suitability of a
particular party

37. “School” Parties outside Berkhamsted
Our Advice:
Alcohol
• No alcohol before the 16th
Birthday party circuit
• No (pouring) spirits during
their school years
• Limit the amount of alcohol
available
• Beware of young people
drinking before the party
• Search bags for alcohol

38. “School” Parties outside Berkhamsted
Our Advice:
Supervision
• Ratio of 1:10 + one
additional adult
• There need to be
designated drivers

39. Email: principal@berkhamstedschool.org
Twitter: @independenthead
Blog: http://independenthead.blogspot.com

40. Pressures on Young People
Open Forum on Body Image
How can parents and the
School work together to help
young people cope with the
pressure relating to body
image?

41. Open Forum on Sex
• At what age would you want to be informed if
it came to the School‟s attention that your
son or daughter were sexually active?

42. Open Forum on Drugs
• If you were to have
suspicions or if you were to
catch your son or daughter
taking drugs, what would you
do?

43. Open Forum on Alcohol
• Do you draw a distinction
between beer, wine and
spirits at home?
• What are your views on
“Alcopops”?

44. Open Forum on Alcohol
• At what age do you think
that it is right for young
people to drink alcohol at
home context?
– Unsupervised?
• At what age?

45. Open Forum on Parties
• How much communication
do you have with other
parents over parties?
• At what age would you let
your son or daughter sleep
over at a party?
• What level of supervision is
possible at a party?
• At what age should alcohol
be available at parties?