I believe that we need to protect our children from older individuals. If 16-17 year olds are not old/mature enough to drink alcohol, not old/mature enough to vote and are required to remain in education until they turn 18, then they are also not old/mature enough to consent to sexual activities with an individual 18+ who is seen as old/mature enough by the law to do these other things. Many 16-17 year olds attend sixth forms or colleges which is still a school, many sixth forms are in the very same building as the school they attended 11-16 years of age. What is different between these 11-16 year olds and 16-17 year olds? They do not leave year 11 and suddenly gain all of the wisdom and knowledge and maturity required to make adult decisions and something needs to change to protect them from being groomed by older individuals.