Sir – In 2002, your newspaper covered a story about Bodyzone contraception clinics being introduced into a few Oxfordshire secondary schools in a bid to reduce teen pregnancies.

At that time, Dr Greenhall, director of family planning, said: “Bodyzone clinics have proved so successful, the Government is introducing similar schemes nationwide”. In spite of failing for the past seven years, expansion has gone ahead throughout schools in the county and a further £20.5m is being funded to provide easier access to sexual health, including this latest initiative of texting for the morning after pill (MAP).

Ignorance is not the problem however, as evidence shows that increased access to sexual health advice and contraception, including MAPs, has made no appreciable difference to the recorded conception rates among young girls, or halt the continuing rise of sexually transmitted diseases.

Supporting young people to develop character qualities of stability, faithfulness and commitment in order to build strong and lasting relationships would help, but the policy makers are choosing to fly in the face of common sense and continue on their chosen path. Encouraging children to text in for their MAPs is irresponsible and abandons children to take a drug which is 50 times the potency of a daily contraceptive pill, and is in contradiction of official guidance which states that ‘no pupil under the age of 16 should be given medication without his or her parent’s written consent’. While the law on drinking alcohol and taking drugs is upheld, underage sex is encouraged.

Eileen Wojciechowska, Black Bourton