PARENTS have criticised schools after finding out their children are being tested for sexually transmitted infections during lessons.

Every secondary state school in Brighton and Hove apart from Cardinal Newman has signed up to a council-supported initiative that offers year 11 pupils Chlamydia tests during class.

Brighton and Hove City Council said the sessions were part of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme in partnership with local NHS provider, the Sussex Community Trust.

Parents contacted The Argus this week to say their children had been asked to swab for Chlamydia during lessons.

The mother of a Year 11 girl at Blatchington Mill in Hove said: “She refused to do it because she felt uncomfortable with it.

“I didn’t know anything about it beforehand and I think the school should have let us know as parents that our children were going to be asked to do this.

“I know the tests were done by the students in the toilets but I think it’s humiliating to ask teenagers in class to do a test for an STI.”

Ashley Harrold, deputy headteacher at Blatchington Mill, confirmed year 11 children were spoken to about STIs in a ‘personal and social education’ lesson on Thursday – but stressed Blatchington Mill was not the only school to take part.

He said: “It’s an NHS strategy where, to demystify the test, they can have one to take away and try. This has been going on for about three or four years.

“We did receive a complaint from a parent and we take them very seriously.”

After being contacted by The Argus Blatchington Mill released a statement on its website informing parents the tests would be taking place if children choose to accept them.

Tina Daniels, 44, from Patcham, said she was shocked when her daughter told her sexually transmitted infections (STI) tests had taken place at Patcham High School.

She said: “I am all for educating our youngsters on sex education issues and for some teenagers these clinics could be beneficial.

“But I think it’s important for parents to be made aware that these facilities are available for their children.”

Patcham High School confirmed they run Guidance on Sexual Health Clinics.

A statement on their website states: “The NHS Heath Promotion Team will also visit the school and talk to pupils about the dangers of unprotected sex and offer screening.”

A spokesman from Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Our work with schools in this area is entirely consistent with government guidelines.

Providing safe opportunities for screening in schools normalises health screening generally as well as identifying and reducing the prevalence of Chlamydia amongst the small number of sexually active under 16 year olds.”