A school has been praised for its approach to sex education, as a nationwide dedication to the subject was announced.

It is now mandatory for schools to introduce a Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) programme and Park High School, in Stanmore, has been cited as a leading example of how to approach this.

The school was selected by a panel of sexual health charities, who will liaise with policymakers when it comes to shaping the new curriculum.

Park High works closely with Brook, a charity which provides free and confidential sexual health information to hundreds of thousands of young people each year.

Head teacher Emlyn Lumley said he was proud of his staff and students in achieving the recognition relating to their RSE programme and the impact it will have.

He said: “I am thrilled that the effort put in by our student advisory group and staff, working together, to design the curriculum has paid off so well.

“The accolade feels well-deserved and it is reassuring to know that our work may well influence, in some small way, the manner in which Relationships and Sex Education gets taught across the country.”

Natika Halil, chief executive at sexual health charity FPA, explained how the change in law has provided the opportunity for a programme to be designed based on the best aspects of those already in place.

She said: “We hope that the programme being delivered by Park High School will be replicated across the country so that all young people can benefit from the high quality, age-appropriate relationships and sex education that they deserve."