Select committees join forces to push for compulsory PSHE lessons

The chairs of the education, health, home affairs and business committee have all signed a letter to Morgan calling for PSHE, which covers sex education, to be made statutory in primary and secondary schools.

“PSHE is a crucial part of preparing young people for life," the letter states.

"It can provide them with the knowledge and confidence to make decisions which will affect their health, wellbeing and relationships, now and in the future.

“It can help develop the skills and attributes needed to secure employment, and can help protect young people from abuse in many forms.

The letter cites evidence from a number of committees and government advisers, including the chief medical officer and the Children’s Commissioner for England, pointing to the case for statutory PSHE in all schools.

The education select committee has previously criticised the government for its “feeble” response to its report calling for statutory status. The MPs have now urged Morgan to prioritise making PSHE statutory this year.

Joe Hayman, chief executive of PSHE Association, said the call from the committees reflects the general support for compulsory PSHE.

“A joint letter like this from four committee chairs is unprecedented and reflects the breadth of support behind statutory status for PSHE both in parliament and in the country, with 85 per cent of business leaders, 88 per cent of teachers, 90 per cent of parents and 92 per cent of young people now in favour of statutory status.
 
"Making PSHE education a statutory subject would ensure that regular timetabled PSHE lessons is taught by trained teachers, in line with expectations for other subjects.

“While not a panacea, statutory status would be a clear statement from government of raised expectations for the subject, with the onus then on the education community to meet those expectations.”
 
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said: “We have long campaigned to make PSHE a statutory subject in our schools, and welcome further calls from prominent voices within parliament.

“The point about statutory status for PSHE is not to tell teachers how to teach it but to protect them from challenge when they do. This is a way of the government backing teachers when they tackle difficult topics in the interests of pupils.

"A light touch, statutory entitlement would be a suitable compromise between protection and autonomy.”