HEADTEACHERS have given a cautious response to plans to introduce sex clinics into Swindon's schools.

On Saturday the Evening Advertiser revealed plans by Tribal, the private firm now running Swindon's education system, to ask parents if they wanted schools to provide free contraception to teenage pupils.

Swindon has the highest rate of young single mothers in the South West and the Department of Health hope the rate could be cut by the controversial plans.

None of the headteachers the Evening Advertiser spoke to accepted or rejected the plans outright.

David Williams, headteacher of Kingsdown School in Stratton, said: "Our view is that we will not do anything about this before speaking to parents.

"We already have a very strong education and advisory pro-gramme run not only by teachers but the school nurse, who pupils can discuss matters with.

"In an 11-16 school, our res-ponsibility is to make sure young adults have all the information they need and ready access to it, but I don't know how much more ready that access should be."

Keith Defter of Commonweal School in Old Town said: "Any consultation exercise needs to take regard of those it consults so I am not yet going to say yes or no. I will find out more about the proposals and then discuss it with my staff, parents and governors."

Peter Wells, headteacher of St Josephs School, a Catholic school in Stratton, pointed to the example of Holland, where although the age of consent is just 12 it has among the lowest teenage preg-nancy rates in Europe.

He said: "St Joseph's has a strong health education pro-gramme taught by our school nurse, her colleagues, our chaplain and staff.

"The Governors believe all young people must understand the value of life and of relation-ships both within and outside of marriage.

"Holland is a good example of a culture where there is a low teenage pregnancy rate.

"This rests upon a strong Chris-tian tradition where open and positive relationships are wel-comed but pre-marital sexual relationships among teenagers are not encouraged nor seen to be acceptable.

Whatever the out-comes of Department of Health consultations, the Governors will uphold the Christian values which are our foundation."

Elizabeth Cooper, headteacher of The Ridgeway School in Wroughton, said she had no plans to recommend changing the school's sex education policy to governors.

She praised the work of school nurse, Diana Hughes, who does much work with the students and who students know they can speak to in the especially sensitive area of relationships.