Children need PSHE education

As the government reviews the school curriculum, Baroness Massey of Darwen expresses her concern that PSHE is not considered an integral part of children's education.

My oral question on April 27 asks about progress in relation to government reviews of the school curriculum and of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).

I understand that consultation on the curriculum reviews is still ongoing but I am concerned that PSHE is not being considered as an integral part of the general curriculum.

I, and others in the House of Lords, have long supported children's rights to PSHE. Surveys of young people and parents confirm that they, too, consider it important.

PSHE is about giving young people knowledge about how they grow and change, about drug and alcohol dangers, diet, safety, sexual health and so on.

PSHE encourages discussion of attitudes and values in relation to oneself and others. It encourages respect for self and others and self-confidence. PSHE is not new – I taught it some 30 years ago! Educators do have experience of curriculum content in this area and of appropriate teaching methods.

We need an action plan for implementation of this important area of the curriculum. Young people live in a complex and sometimes dangerous world. They need the skills and information to deal with it and become assured and happy in their relationships.

A former teacher, Baroness Massey of Darwen was raised to the peerage in 1999.

Article Comments

The PSHE Association welcomes Baroness Massey's continued support for PSHE education to be an integral part of the curriculum entitlement for all pupils in our schools.

We also acknowledge and welcome the commitment the government has made in the White Papers on education and health and hope that the results of the internal review will strengthen the role of PSHE education as an important subject in schools. The PSHE Association will continue to offer advice and support for the development of high quality PSHE education.

PSHE Association
27th Apr 2011 at 9:40 am

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