Why is PSHE education provision important to schools?

PSHE education makes a major contribution to schools’ contribution to the Every Child Matters (ECM) 5 outcomes for children[i] and to the statutory responsibilities to 

• promote children and young people’s wellbeing[ii]
• achieve the whole curriculum aims
• promote community cohesion
• provide careers education and sex education

The relationship between PSHE education provision and school ethos is important. An effective school ethos requires:

• effective relationships between all members of the school community
• pupils to play an active part in decision making
• school policies to be compatible with what is taught in PSHE education

Why is PSHE education important to children and young people?

PSHE education equips children and young people with knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive, fulfilled, capable[iii] and responsible lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in managing their finances effectively. PSHE education also enables children and young people to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes, and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future.

[i] The ECM outcomes are: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing

[ii] Wellbeing is defined in the Children Act 2004 as the promotion of physical and mental health; emotional wellbeing; social and economic well being; education, training and recreation; recognition of the contribution made by children to society; and protection from harm and neglect. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a requirement on schools to promote pupils’ wellbeing as well as their academic achievement.

[iii] Capability refers to a level of awareness of a particular life issue, the development of skills and knowledge associated with it and the willingness to act and to make positive decisions with regard to it. A key concept in economic wellbeing and financial capability, it also applies to personal wellbeing. Capability is essential to social and emotional skills, sex and relationships; drugs and alcohol; economic awareness and enterprise; careers and personal finance. The development of capability requires teaching about the interrelationship between topics so that learning in school echoes the reality of experience in life.

Watch Mick Waters, Head of Curriculum at QCDA explain the importance of PSHE education in the curriculum