The DfE is keeping the status of PSHE education under review, according to oral evidence by Nick Gibb, Minister of State for School Reform, at today’s Education Committee inquiry session into PSHE and SRE.
Mr Gibb said that PSHE was “a huge priority” for the DfE and that good PSHE is “crucial to enable young people to cope with life in modern Britain and a demanding academic curriculum." He recognised the subject’s contribution to safeguarding pupils and in helping to address issues such as child sexual exploitation while highlighting its importance to development of character and resilience in life and work.
When asked about how to ensure pupils receive high quality PSHE he stated that the DfE was keeping the subject’s status in the curriculum under review and would also look forward to reading the Committee’s recommendations. Mr Gibb also highlighted PSHE’s contribution to spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development and the need for more transparency by schools on the contents of their PSHE curricula .
We welcome this willingness by the DfE to engage on PSHE education’s status and look forward to continued opportunities for dialogue with the Department on how to ensure better quality provision for all pupils.
We will also continue to harness and highlight the growing support for PSHE from leading organisations and initiatives, over 100 of which have already signed up to our campaign for statutory status.
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