At 16 a girl can consent (say yes, give permission, allow) to having sex with a boy. This doesn't mean she has too! She can wait as long as she likes - until they are 90 if they wish!

The girl isn't committing an offence if she does so before 16 but the boy she has sex with is. This means they are breaking the law - they could end up with a record! There is no specific law on the age of consent between two women but two men must be 16 before they consent to having sex with each other.

You can marry if your parents/carers agree at 16. You can marry without their consent at 18.