The PSHE Association has welcomed the continuing coverage relating to the status of PSHE education in UK schools in the Times newspaper. The coverage began with Maria Miller, the chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee calling for statutory status for the subject in response to growing concerns about the impact of sexting on young people. Following the report, former Girls Aloud singer and Barnardo’s Ambassador, Nicola Roberts added her support to the call for PSHE education in all schools. Most recently, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the national police lead for child protection, stated that “compulsory PSHE education would ensure all our children to get the information to help themselves so they can stay safe.”
These calls come as the Department for Education moves forward its new White Paper ‘Education Excellence Everywhere’ (read the Association’s response here).
Commenting on the recent coverage PSHE Association Chief Executive, Joe Hayman said:
“Simon Bailey’s support for the campaign for PSHE to be taught in all schools means that the country’s most senior police officer working in child protection joins the Commons Education Committee, the Commons Home Affairs Committee, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Chairs of the Commons Health, Business, Innovation and Skills and Women and Equalities Committees, the Children’s Commissioner, the Chief Medical Officer, Public Health England, the NSPCC, Barnardo’s, the Children’s Society, two royal societies, five education unions, six royal medical colleges, 85% of business leaders, 88% of teachers, 91% of parents and 92% of young people in challenging the government to take action.
Downing Street is out of step with public and professional opinion – we call on David Cameron to listen to parliamentarians, professionals and parents and give PSHE education the status it deserves.”