PSHE

Date: 28.04.09

Voice responded to announcements from the DCSF on Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Drug and Alcohol Education, and on pupil behaviour, in England. Plus update on review of PSHE.

Independent review of making Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education statutory (Macdonald PSHE Review): This review provides a number of firm recommendations for the DCSF to consider, including that PSHE education should become part of the statutory National Curriculum in both primary and secondary phases. (Published April 2009)

 

DCSF press notice, 28 April 2009: "Accepting the findings of an independent review led by Sir Alasdair Macdonald, Ed Balls confirmed his intention to make Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education a compulsory part of the curriculum at primary and secondary school." 

"The expectation is for PSHE to become compulsory from September 2011."

 

Proposed PSHE secondary school programme of study (following existing non-statutory programme) (QCA) (April 2009)

 

Drug Education Forum (DEF)

 

Healthy Schools Co-ordinators

 

 

Voice press release: 23 October 2008

 

Voice responds to announcements on Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) and behaviour

 

Voice: the union for education professionals has responded to announcements from the DCSF today (23 October 2008) on Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE), including Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and Drug and Alcohol Education, and on pupil behaviour.

 

Commenting on Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE), Principal Officer (Education) Alison Johnston said: "We broadly welcome the initiatives announced today, and will study the details, but we do have a number of concerns and reservations.

 

"Schools already address issues of sex and relationships and drugs and alcohol through PSHE and Citizenship lessons, so additional guidance will be useful. However, the curriculum is already crowded and so it will be difficult to find space to cover even more social issues.

 

"Teachers are not necessarily experts in these fields and so would require training, or support from appropriate health professionals and families, and the funding to deliver this.

 

"Parents can currently withdraw pupils from sex education lessons in some circumstances, so it is essential that there is parental support for the way that schools deal with these sensitive issues, and that these lessons are not delivered by teachers alone but with the appropriate support of other professionals.  

 

"The content of lessons and the language used must be appropriate for the age and abilities of the pupils.

 

"Schools do have wider responsibilities for pupil well-being, but are being required to take on more of the responsibilities that really belong to parents, blurring the boundaries between education and social service. If we’re not careful, the focus in schools will move away from education towards child well-being. Schools are being asked to monitor things that aren’t education, such as drinking, drugs and extremism. Schools are expected to compensate for parental shortcomings and for the pressures adult society imposes on young people.

 

"It is important that health messages are evident in alcohol advertising; pupils need to understand the risks of drinking and drug taking."

 

Commenting on the DCSF’s ’Back on Track’ announcement on pupil behaviour and the survey of teachers’ attitudes to pupil behaviour, Principal Officer (Education) Alison Johnston said: "A minority of disruptive pupils cause a disproportionate amount of problems in schools, and it is their behaviour that we hear about from members, and read or hear about in the media - not the majority of pupils whose behaviour is acceptable or better.

 

"There is a shared responsibility for behaviour between schools, parents and families, and it is important that there are clear structures for behaviour management in schools.  Both teachers and pupils need to know they are supported and have the opportunity to work and thrive in a safe and secure environment.

 

"Disruptive pupil behaviour is a threat to teaching and learning. Pupils have the right to learn and teachers have the right to teach.

 

"Parents should be involved in disciplinary measures so that issues about their children’s behaviour can be addressed. Where appropriate, more use should be made of parenting orders."  

 

Notes

"All pupils to get healthy lifestyle lessons - Government accepts recommendations of sex and drugs reviews" (23 October 2008)  "Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) will become a compulsory part of the curriculum from Key Stage 1 to 4 (ages 5 to 16)."

Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) review 

Drug Alcohol review

 

DCSF announcement on pupil behaviour and the survey of teachers’ attitudes to pupil behaviour

 

Back on Track

 

ends

 

Contact: Voice Press Office (pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk) or Principal Officer (Education) Alison Johnston (alisonjohnston@voicetheunion.org.uk) on 01332 372 337.