School children in Lincolnshire will now sit classes in how to live healthy, safe and solvent lives, following a Government decision to make it compulsory.

Under new plans laid out by schools secretary Ed Balls, young people will learn about personal finance, alcohol and drugs, healthy lifestyles, and sex and relationships in PSHE – personal, social, health and economic education.

And as part of the decision, parents rights to take their youngsters out of these classes up to the age of 19, will be lowered to 15.

It means all children will receive at least a year of PHSE.

But individual schools will continue to tailor the curriculum to suit them.

However, Mr Balls has been quick to say that, tolerance is paramount with information on same-sex relationships and civil partnerships being taught.

He also said that while schools can teach the promotion of marriage and abstention from sex before marriage, children should not be denied information on contraception outside of marriage.

The decision has come following an independent review by Sir Alasdair Macdonald which included public consultation.

For reaction from Lincolnshire parents, teachers and sexual health experts, see Saturday's Echo.