TEENAGERS are to be given the chance to contribute to a debate on how sex education should be taught in Kent schools.

Kent County Council says it plans to set up an all-party committee that will include young people as part of a wide-ranging review of how sex education is taught.

The creation of the advisory committee is in response to a critical report by county councillors, which said sex education in some schools was "too biological" and "not consistent".

The report, which recommended sex education classes begin much earlier in primary schools, also highlighted a lack of specialist teachers.

Members of the Kent Youth County Council will sit on the committee to give their perspective and advice.

County council leader Cllr Paul Carter said schools had to wake up fast to the need to improve.

He said: "The teenage pregnancy rate in some parts of Kent is appalling and the rate of sexually-transmitted diseases is horrific.

"We have to make sure we transform fast what we delivering in our primary and secondary schools."

Schools had a duty to "fill the void for those children whose families don’t provide them with information on sex and relationships," he added.