Let's give our young people the education they want

We're not usually discussing the contents of the maths syllabus, but instead a much broader view of education that will help equip them for life's joys and challenges. This is the part of the curriculum usually designated as PSHE (personal, social and health education). Some schools are innovative and excellent in their approaches to PSHE, but most young people who bend my ear are scathing about the content and delivery of it.

Some of the things young people have said they would like to learn more about are sex and relationships (especially lesbian and gay sex and relationships); how to live independently (tenancies, finances, cooking and DIY); and politics, voting and how to change things. Another theme has been tolerance and understanding of diversity. At one of our participatory meetings, young people from a range of groups including those with disabilities, from black and minority ethnic communities, economically disadvantaged and gypsy traveller communities took turns to present their experiences and ideas on how to tackle the problems they face. It quickly became clear that all groups were saying they would like other young people and the general public to understand them better and to see them as individuals behind any stereotypes. Many said they wished their PSHE lessons could work better to do this.