John Wilson calls for schools to offer “erotic education” in an article headed “Can Sex Education Be Practical?” in this month’s international journal, Sex Education.

“We teach children by practical experience to deal with their aggression, their desire for revenge, their lack of self-confidence,” he writes. “When it comes to sexuality or eroticism, we offer no examples to imitate, no contexts of self-expression, and no hands-on experience.”

Mr Wilson says schools should teach children to be skilful and considerate lovers. This would include the use of visual and literary material, such as videos. He said: “These representations will show, in detail, what a desirable sexual encounter looks like. Sexual partners feeling and saying and doing the right sort of things with each other.”

Pupils would be taught the physical elements of sexual expression and how to be good in bed. Classes would include role-play sessions, in which participants could practise sexual negotiation, canvassing each other’s preferences.

Such a programme, Mr Wilson argues, need not lead to increased sexual activity. By highlighting the emotional investment necessary for a satisfying sexual encounter, he hopes to encourage teenagers to wait for the right partner.

He draws a comparison with military recruits: rather than being thrust immediately into the battlefield, they first practise shooting with blanks.

The Christian Institute, which campaigns for Christian values, said the proposal was immoral and would encourage children to engage in reckless sexual experimentation. Colin Hart, its director, said: “Showing pornography in the classroom would be a form of child abuse and it would be quite degrading for the pupils.”