13-year-old Alfie Patten became a father this week and the coverage seemed depressingly familiar. While the father received a surprising level of sympathy and was even labelled a victim of child abuse, his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman faced lurid accusations and the wrath of Melanie Phillips. Columnists queued up to wag their fingers, spEak You’re bRanes sections went into overdrive, and the blame for Broken Britain was on the mothers before you could say “free council house”.

Poor sex education was cited as the secondary cause, so how could we go about improving it? Acknowledging that it takes two to tango would be a good start: the Mirror’s Fiona McIntosh wasn’t taken in by Alfie’s innocent looks, but she was in a small minority. Most columnists found the “baby-faced father” angle irresistable, and sensationalism won over sensitivity.

Once again the Netherlands was held up as an example to us all, so what are they doing to keep their teenage birth rate at a sixth of ours? Among other things they’re making videos such as this one, in which two Pete Fowler-esque specimens prepare to tango. There’s no mention of marriage so Melanie Phillips might want to look away now, as might anyone of a nervous disposition:

Having being exposed to this, are Dutch teenagers now just too scared to explore their sexuality? Joking aside, it’s a refreshingly original video which should draw no sniggers from the back. The Dutch are often praised for their frank and open approach to sex education: a similar approach may now be needed here.