Health and council workers are talking to Calderdale head teachers about making contraceptives – including the morning-after pill – available to high school students through their school nurses in the wake of above-national average teen pregnancy figures.

Joanna Nichols, Cald-erdale's teenage pregnancy co-ordinator, stressed the move would be part of a package aimed at educating youngsters in all year groups about sex and other health issues.

"Young people can access these services at the moment but they don't because they don't want to go to settings where they don't feel comfortable," she said.

"Students have an established relationship with their school nurse and trust them and will go to them."

She said evidence has shown this kind of work does not encourage under-age sex. "It's far more dangerous not to give the advice and information and support."

Calderdale's teen pregnancy rates have fallen by around 15 per over the last 10 years but, at 42.5 per 1,000, its figures are still higher than the national average of 41.7.

Mrs Nichols said a third of schools in the rest of the country – including some in Leeds and Bradford – already provide similar kinds of sexual health services.

School staff can direct students to GPs and family planning clinics.

The new steps could see those services, provided by a health professional, available in schools if the students, parents and teachers agreed.

Calderdale Primary Care Trust and Calderdale Council's children and young people's services will talk to every school in the district about the project and how it can be introduced.

Mrs Nichols said some schools may be happy to have condoms and emergency contraception handed out on-site, but want the pill and other longer-term methods prescribed by a GP.

"It's up to the students and what the parents, teachers and governors feel comfortable with," she said.

David Smith, chaplain at St Catherine's Catholic High School in Halifax, said: "The Catholic Church is opposed to artificial contraception so would be opposed to it being available on site in any of or schools."

Head teacher at Ryburn Valley High School in Sowerby Honor Byford said: "This is something that would have to be considered by the governing body.

"If it improves the lives of young people then it should be considered but there are a lot of other issues to be looked at as well."

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