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Independent review of the proposal to make personal, social, health and economic education statutory

On 27 April 2009, Sir Alasdair Macdonald published his independent review of the government’s proposal to make personal, social, health and economic education compulsory in schools.

Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education aims to help children and young people deal with the real life issues they face as they grow up. The specific issues that PSHE education covers are central to young people’s wellbeing: nutrition and physical activity; drugs, alcohol and tobacco; sex and relationships; emotional health and wellbeing; safety; careers; work-related learning; and personal finance.

Recognising that making PSHE education statutory raises a number of concerns for schools, parents and young people, the government commissioned Sir Alisdair Macdonald’s independent review.

The review sets out 20 key recommendations which include the requirement that:

• PHSE education should become part of the national curriculum in both primary and secondary phases;
• Governing bodies should retain the right to determine their school’s approach to sex and relationships education;
• The existing right of parental withdrawal from sex and relationships education should be maintained;
• All initial teacher training courses should include some focus on PSHE education.

Independent review of the proposal to make personal, social, health and economic education statutory (PDF)