PSHCE
What is PSHCE?
PSHCE stands
for Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education. It is a course
which is part of the learning of all pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4, that
aims to 'Prepare
Young People for Adult Life' as recommended by the DfES, who also state
that 'Society has a responsibility to help children and young people to
meet the challenges of life by helping them to understand and value themselves,
be optimistic about the future and life's possibilities, and to develop
positive self-esteem, confidence and to take increasing control of and
responsibility for their lives and play an active part in their own communities.'
Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education including Careers Education
and Guidance, Sex Education and Drug Education provides a whole school
strategy for working in partnership with parents and others to help children
to overcome the social pressures they face, and the barriers to learning
and achievement that they encounter. (Preparing Young People for Adult
Life - DfES)
What is Citizenship?
Citizenship
Education is education for citizenship and about citizenship. It implies
development of values, skills and understanding: Children need to feel,
think and do for citizenship to be effective.
It involves:
- Social and Moral Responsibility: Pupils learn from the very beginning, self confidence, socially and morally responsible behaviour both in and beyond the classroom towards those in authority and towards each other;
- Community Involvement: Pupils learn how to become helpfully involved in the life and concerns of their neighbourhood and communities, including learning through community involvement and service.
- Political Literacy: Pupils learn to actively participate in, and learn about democratic systems and procedures, using these to examine issues and problems and develop appropriate responses.
What is Sex and Relationship Education?
Sex and relationship education is the lifelong learning about physical,
moral, social and emotional development. It is about the forming of positive
non-exploitative relationships that are based on respect, care and empathy.
There are three main elements:
- Attitudes and values
- Personal and social skills
- Knowledge and understanding
What is Drugs Education?
Perhaps the first question to ask is, "what is a drug?" In current educational thinking the following definition is agreed that..
'A drug is a substance which affects the body (physically or psychologically) and includes medicines, alcohol, tobacco, solvents, legal and illegal (illicit) drugs.'
Current guidance states that....
'Drug Education is not just about giving information on drugs. It also involves developing skills, attitudes and values to help children and young people make informed choices.'
What is Careers Education and Guidance?
"Career," in this context is defined as, "an individual's
pathway through learning and work".
Careers Education and Guidance (CEG) is about enabling individuals to become effective planners and managers of their own careers in today's rapidly changing world of learning and work. (CAREERS EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE POLICY FRAMEWORK LEEDS 2000)
What is the Distinctive Contribution of PSHCE to Students, Staff, Families and Communities?
In Personal,
Social and Health Education, we recognise that we have a responsibility
to help students to meet the challenges of life by helping them to understand
and value themselves, be optimistic about the future of life's possibilities,
and to develop the positive self-esteem and confidence in order to take
increasing control of and responsibility for their lives and play an active
part in their communities. In line with current educational research we
endorse the reality that confidence and self- esteem are central to educational
achievement.
Citizenship education, will support young people's participation in community
affairs as they will be active, informed, critical and responsible citizens.
Citizenship education offers us a foundation to relate positively to the
local community and to develop effective citizenship education in the
curriculum for all pupils.
Effective sex and relationship education is essential if students are
to make and sustain meaningful relationships. We want our students to
be able to make responsible and well informed decisions about their lives.
We want them to have knowledge, skills and understanding to keep themselves
and others safe.
Ofsted's report Drug Education in Schools [1997] suggests that effective
teaching of drug education not only increases student's knowledge about
alcohol, tobacco and other drugs but also enables students to:
(Protecting Young People - DfES)
