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Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is a planned programme of learning
opportunities and experiences that help children and young people grow and develop as individuals
and as members of families and of social and economic communities.
PSHE supports children and young people to make informed decisions about their lives. It is a
planned curriculum area that contributes to pupils’ life chances, developing knowledge,
understanding, skills and attitudes.
In primary schools citizenship forms part of the non-statutory framework for PSHE and Citizenship, and in secondary schools it is a discrete statutory curriculum area with national curriculum orders. Citizenship is distinct from PSHE, although there are areas that overlap
PSHE is a non-statutory subject but a recent report (Nov 2009) from Sir Alasdair Macdonald on curriculum reform and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education recommends that PSHE education should become part of the statutory national curriculum in both primary and secondary phases.
During key stage 1 pupils learn about themselves as developing individuals and as members of their communities, building on their own experiences and on the early learning goals for personal, social and emotional development. They learn the basic rules and skills for keeping themselves healthy and safe and for behaving well. They have opportunities to show they can take some responsibility for themselves and their environment. They begin to learn about their own and other people's feelings and become aware of the views, needs and rights of other children and older people. As members of a class and school community, they learn social skills such as how to share, take turns, play, help others, resolve simple arguments and resist bullying. They begin to take an active part in the life of their school and its neighbourhood.
During key stage 2 pupils learn about themselves as growing and changing individuals with their own experiences and ideas, and as members of their communities. They become more mature, independent and self-confident. They learn about the wider world and the interdependence of communities within it. They develop their sense of social justice and moral responsibility and begin to understand that their own choices and behaviour can affect local, national or global issues and political and social institutions. They learn how to take part more fully in school and community activities. As they begin to develop into young adults, they face the changes of puberty and transfer to secondary school with support and encouragement from their school. They learn how to make more confident and informed choices about their health and environment; to take more responsibility, individually and as a group, for their own learning; and to resist bullying.
There are two new non-statutory programmes of study at key stages 3 and 4: personal wellbeing, and economic wellbeing and financial capability. The programmes of study are based on the Every Child Matters outcomes and build on the existing frameworks and guidelines in these areas.
Useful websites
PSHE Association website for all professional working in PSHE
National Curriculum website for pages about PSHE for Key Stage 1, PSHE for Key Stage 2 and PSHE for Key Stages 3 and 4.
Teachernet for Personal, social, health and economic education:Curriculum reform consultation report (Nov 2009).