THREE quarters of adults believe the dangers of pornography and ‘sexting’ should be taught in schools, according to a survey.

Organised by the charity, Plan International UK, it found 75 per cent of 2,000 people agreed the impact of pornographic material should be taught as part of sexual education.

More than 70 per cent of people said lessons on the awareness of ‘sexting’, when a sexually-explicit photograph or message is sent via a mobile phone, should be taught.

Only seven per cent of those polled were opposed to the move.

Xavier Bowes, headteacher at Mount Carmel RC High School in Accrington, said pornography is a serious safeguarding issue for teachers.

He said; “Unfortunately sexting and watching pornography it is part of the society we live in and we discourage all children to engage in that whatsoever, it is completely inappropriate.

“We cover the dangers of the internet as part of our personal, social and health education programme.

“We take part in the e-safety events in school to tackle all the dangers of using the internet and social media.”

Under current rules state secondary schools under council control in England have to teach compulsory sex education.

Academies and free schools do not have to but can include it in their curriculums.

Parents can opt to take their children out of these classes.

Cllr Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools for Lancashire County Council, said awareness around the internet safety is growing.

He said: “In my view it is not about sex education, it is about teaching young people resilience and giving them knowledge about the internet.

“We want to make sure people are equipped to go on the internet and know how to use it in a safe way.

“It’s so a young person knows if someone says they are a 14-year-old boy, they might not be a 14-year-old boy.”

Richard Jones, headteacher of St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington, said: “We teach the full emotional education as a principle.

“This is through our formal curriculum, PSHE and RE as well as off time table events.

“We want to teach about positive relationships."