Carol, the UK (despite the fact that we are not 'disestablished') has a sex education programme in schools

'The guidance on sex and relationship education deals with families, puberty and physical changes, bullying, friendships and how to make "healthy" choices when it comes to sex and sexuality. Teachers are encouraged to use examples from magazines aimed at teenagers in the lessons to spark debate.

A spokeswoman said: "Using magazines and newspaper articles enables teachers to engage pupils in PSHE lessons in a relevant and exciting way to ensure that they have the information that they need to make informed choices throughout life." She added that suggestions children should look forward to later nights out and wearing make-up as they became teenagers was designed to highlight the positive aspects of adolescents'

from Guardian 'New sex education guidelines released' November 04 2005

'Nevertheless, Britain has the second highest teenage birth rate in the developed world, according to a report from the United Nations (2002)
The United States is the only country with a higher proportion of teenage mothers, with 52 per 1000 compared with 32/1000 in the United Kingdom. The lowest birth rates were found in Korea, Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden, where less than 7 girls per 1000 gave birth.'

British Medical Journal

It's not a 'simple' issue but one that the tabloid press and posters here seem to want to regard in that way.

Maybe one factor is

Sexualizing Childhood

'Children today are inundated with media and marketing that use sex to sell products. Embedded in these sexualized images are harmful messages that equate personal value with sexual appeal and turn sex into a commodity. Movies, music, TV programs, video games, and even toys marketed to children are rife with degrading images that objectify and sexualize girls and woman. Boys are also affected when sex is commodified, presented in the context of harmful stereotypes, and intertwined with power and violence.

Sexualized media and marketing can actively interfere with adolescents' healthy sexual development and promote risky behavior. Today, even young children are internalizing sexualized images and appropriating sexualized behavior—long before they are able to understand what it means to be a sexual being.'

from Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood