NCB Welcomes Government's Bold Step Towards Making PSHE A Statutory Part Of The National Curriculum, UK

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 24 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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NCB today warmly welcomes Government's announcement that it is to commission a review to establish the best way for making Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) a statutory part of the school curriculum.

This landmark move comes in response to the reviews by the Independent Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education and on Sex and Relationships Education - which both strongly recommend that PSHE should be made a statutory subject.

NCB has long campaigned for PSHE to have enhanced, statutory status in the National Curriculum.

Fergus Crow, Assistant Director - Education and Well-being at NCB, said: 'We welcome this bold move - it is the right decision for children, for their families and for schools now and in the future. PSHE education delivered by well-trained teachers has the potential to provide high quality, attributable learning for well-being for children and young people. Young people regularly report that their PSHE education is failing them - a lack of an underlying rationale for the subject is behind the failure of PSHE education to reach its full potential. This is a chance to put that right.'

The Education and Inspections Act 2006 now places a statutory duty on governing bodies of maintained schools to promote the well-being of children and young people as well as their academic achievement. With well-being now an accepted focus for improving schools, with well-being indictors out for consultation and national guidance to follow, statutory PSHE is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Jo Butcher, Assistant Director - Health, Well-being and Environment at NCB added: 'Effective PSHE is good for children, good for families, and good for communities and society. By securing children's entitlement to high quality PSHE, we are securing their futures - ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, confidence and resilience to respond positively to life's opportunities and challenges and make choices that are beneficial for their well-being, as well as those around them.'

NCB's mission is to advance the well being of all children and young people across every aspect of their lives. As a membership and infrastructure support agency for the children's sector in England and Northern Ireland, NCB provides essential information on policy, research and best practice for our members and the members of our wide range of partnership bodies which operate under our charitable status and are based in our London Headquarters. For further information visit www.ncb.org.uk

Source
Sarah Thorne
Head of Communications, Marketing & PR
National Children's Bureau

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