Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Tuesday, 27 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 March 2007. It was answered by Baroness Hughes of Stretford (Labour) on Monday, 16 April 2007 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Schools: Teenage Pregnancy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been (a) funded and (b) carried out by his Department into the effects of improving the ethos of schools on the rate of (i) teenage pregnancies and (ii) drug abuse; when his Department last undertook an evidence review on the issue that drew on (A) UK and (B) international research; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: No specific research has been commissioned by DfES that looks explicitly at how a school's ethos impacts on the rate of teenage pregnancies or substance misuse.There is, however, evidence that schools have an important role in tackling the underlying causes of both teenage pregnancy and substance misuse, in particular through their role in raising young people's aspirations and improving their educational attainment. Research by Hosie A & Dawson N (2005): ““The Education of Pregnant Young Women and Young Mothers?, reports that dislike of school was shown to have a strong independent effect on the risk of teenage pregnancy. This important finding is reflected in the DfES publication, ““Teenage Pregnancy: Accelerating the Strategy to 2010?, sent to all local authorities in September 2006.

Secondary information