Personal and Social Health Education (PSHE)
PSHE is linked into the National Curriculum and aims to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve as well as promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It prepares all pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.
As part of the Healthy Schools’ process schools are required to develop a PSHE policy outlining provision within the school.
A Primary level the non-statutory curriculum should include citizenship, while at secondary level and beyond PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) should build on pupil’s prior knowledge and skills from the primary phase.
Areas covered include:
- Developing confidence and responsibility and making the most of abilities
- Developing a healthy, safer lifestyle
- Developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people
- Preparing to play active roles as citizens
- Developing the skills of enquiry and communication
Sex and Relationships Education (SRE)
Sex and Relationship Education is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development. It is about understanding the importance of marriage for family life, stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care. It is also about the teaching of sex, sexuality and sexual health. (DfES 2000)
In order to achieve Healthy Schools Gold Status, a school needs to have their SRE policy assured by the Local Authority.
A driving force behind the provision of effective SRE is the government’s 10 year strategy for reducing teenage conception in the under 18’s by 50% by 2010 and the Sexual Health and HIV Strategy.
Nottinghamshire has formed a countywide multi-agency SRE group, which aims to ensure that schools are supported and resourced in their work around sex.
Drug Education
In order to achieve Healthy schools Gold Status, schools need to have their Drug education Policy quality assured by the Local Authority.
The 4 strands of the National Drugs Strategy (2008-2018) are:
- protecting communities through tackling drug supply, drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour
- preventing harm to children, young people and families affected by drug misuse
- delivering new approaches to drug treatment and social re-integration
- public information campaigns, communications and community engagement
Children receiving drugs education – including skills development are more likely to chose not to take illegal drugs.
Smoking
Schools must demonstrate evidence of implementing a non-smoking and Tobacco Control policy or working towards smoke-free status.
