SOCIETY has failed its children, a councillor has said, during a debate about underage sex and alcohol consumption.

Recent figures, from all of Flintshire’s secondary schools, show that 22 per cent of sexually active year 11 students reported they had sexual intercourse for the first time aged 13 or younger, while 33 per cent reported they were 14 – both higher than the national average.

It was also revealed 38 per cent of those sexually active reported they used a condom and 22 per cent they used birth control.

Members of Flintshire Council’s Education and Youth scrutiny committee met to discuss the healthy schools and pre-school programme.

Cllr Kevin Hughes said: "It doesn’t make for very pleasant reading when we look at the survey.

"It's the sexual intercourse that really worries me. Consent is 16. Innocence is lost under 16. I think we are failing our children, not the councils, not the schools, but society. We have got to get parents more on board.

"Clearly we have got pupils [who are] sexually active. It's horrifying and terrifying, we should do all we can as a society.

"There's a legal issue here. It's 16. In law a female is incapable of giving consent until her 16th birthday. It's statutory rape, I'm not sure how schools will get around it."

Cllr Glyn Banks added: "If you’ve got two children in school, a 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy, if they went to school could they get help?

"There's no point saying ‘ew’ and shy away from it. If they are going to do it, we’ve got to make sure they have protection. It’s the real world."

Members were told that children can go to the school nurse and request protection. A risk assessment will then be carried out and if they are deemed competent they will be provided protection.

The meeting was also informed that parents would not be be notified of the meeting with the nurse due to confidentiality rules.

Claire Sinnott, learning advisor, said more needs to be done to promote that role and raise awareness of it, adding: "Our goal is to delay that sexual encounter for as long as possible."

The committee was told that further surveys will be conducted throughout the four-year action plan and councillors said parents should get onboard as well.

However, concerns were also raised in regard to 51 per cent reporting they drink alcohol, 13 per cent of year 11 students reported they got drunk for the first time at age 13 and 41 per cent reported they had been bullied – all of which were higher than the national average.

Cllr Kevin Hughes said as a former detective he was concerned of cannabis use, which he described as a gateway drug.

He added: "The important thing is getting parents on board and any other organisations. It should be clear to us all what our young people are doing.

"The lack of funding for police means we are not getting action on substance use. We can’t have a go at councils or schools or teachers it’s the whole umbrella, it's society. Things have got to change."

Cllr Andy Dunbobbin said: "It's a big problem but I do think we are quite lucky in Wales. The Well-Being and Future Generations Act is getting so much coverage worldwide, the country in itself is leading the way in that. There's still a lot of work to be done.

"I'm on the fence with cannabis usage, it's very alarming. It’s a really emotive subject. We can guide and advise our children as best we can, they may not carry out what we would like, it's up to that child to make that choice."

Cllr Tudor Jones raised concerns over bullying, to which Claire Sinnott said further clarification is needed in terms of what bullying means.

Councillors heard how the summer enrichment programme was a success last year, and this year it has been extended to four extra sites.

However, concerns were raised over the effects of parents and children who struggle to afford meals during breaks from school.

Cllr Tudor Jones said: "Parents are struggling to afford meals. Could we have pupils off school for shorter time. It's something I would be firmly in support of."

Claire Homard, chief officer for education and youth at the council, added: "We do have an expectation to harmonise our term dates. I think the minister would be very reluctant.

"We know it has an impact on children’s learning during long breaks. It's a point well made, it's a difficult time for children and often a very difficult time for parents to manage.

"We do have a strong parenting strategy in Flintshire, but we cannot be complacent. Supporting well-being is just as important as academic results.

"This is a matter for us all, it’s everyone’s responsibility."

Members of the committee said the schools work exceptionally hard to help children achieve the best results they can while maintaining a positive well-being, but everyone needs to work together to ensure young people reach their full potential.

Councillors voted in favour of the recommendations to formulate their conclusions based on the report, consider progress made and gain an overview of the key issues which could impact children’s ability to reach their full potential at school.

They also voted in favour of adding a fourth recommendation which was to recognise the survey results and the work that schools do but voted in favour of parents and agency partners to work together and implement change.