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Secondary School Compliance in the Curriculum
We know! Not only do you have to create content, deliver it and promote engagement, but you also have to make sure that your PSHE schedule is compliant with the law and covers all things requested by the government.
The pressures on a PSHE teacher not only to deliver, but also to understand what is required by law, can only add to an already over-stressed environment that so often goes unrecognised and unrewarded
The Department of Education guidance on PSHE 'makes it clear' that it is largely up to schools to determine what is taught, with teachers "best placed to understand the needs of their pupils" but elements of this guidance falls into legal requirements that cause anxiety in many teachers.
What compounds these anxieties is a very vague, although be it broad guidance framework, where each individual school has to somehow make sense and incorporate sensitive issues into their curriculum.
Welcome to PSHE!
8 - Point Checklist Government Guidance
At Secondary school level, the guidance says the teaching should build on primary learning with 'a focus on enabling pupils to make well-informed, positive choices for themselves. Pupils should be taught the following eight things:
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Compliance 6
Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco
With the ever-growing dangers and implications of involvement with drugs, the teaching needs to include:
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The facts about legal substances and illegal substances
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The associated risks
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The law relating to the supply and possession of illegal substances
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The risks of alcohol consumption and what constitutes (relatively) safe consumption
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The consequences of addiction
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The dangers of smoking tobacco, particularly lung cancer
Compliance 7
Health and Prevention
Children should be taught about the characteristics and benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of exercise. They should also be informed of the dangers and the negative impact that an inactive lifestyle will have.
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Schemes of work should include:
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Personal hygiene and germs
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The importance of dental health
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The importance of sleep
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The importance of self-examination (late secondary)
Compliance 8
Basic First Aid
What is your definition of entry - level as your class should be taught entry-level first aid including knowledge and evidence that they can call the emergency services, maybe through role play, whilst also being able to deal with common injuries.
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It will be important for you to define a common injury as no clear guidance is given to this within the report.
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Common injuries
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Life-saving skills
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Including CPR and the purpose of defibrillators
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Providing you are covering the above compliance topics within your PSHE schedule, then you are satisfying the needs of the most recent government PSHE Guidelines.
Teacher Connect is committed not only to supporting you within these guidelines, but also providing a communication vehicle through our mobile app where teachers can communicate with each other to seek support or just share your activities with others.
Full Government Guidance
We hope you have found the 8-point checklist overview helpful as a guide to your PSHE schedules. These points highlight the main categories of topics that should be covered within lessons.
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If you need a more comprehensive view of the guidelines you can access them by clicking the button below.