The RCN warns a lack of sex and relationships education, caused by falling numbers of school nurses, may be putting vulnerable children at risk of exploitation and abuse.
School nurses play a key role in delivering essential sex and relationships education (SRE) and safeguarding children against sexual exploitation and abuse.
But the latest NHS workforce statistics show the number of school nursing posts has fallen by 13% since 2010, with just 2,606 now left in the NHS.
A recent BBC investigation also found that there were 5,500 sexual assaults in the school environment during a three year period, including one rape nearly every school day.
Meanwhile a survey by the NUS suggested half of students learned about sex through watching porn, while two thirds received no information about consent in their SRE lessons.
For full article see Royal College of Nursing 25 August 2016