PSHE remains a non-statutory subject in both primary and secondary schools with the following paragraph on PSHE education included in the 2013 National Curriculum framework documents for both primary and secondary levels:

'All schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), drawing on good practice. Schools are also free to include other subjects or topics of their choice in planning and designing their own programme of education.'

The DfE has also published supplementary guidance on PSHE education which reiterates previous Government policy on the subject. It states that while PSHE education remains a non-statutory subject, it is 'an important and necessary part of pupils' education. It goes on:

'Schools should seek to use PSHE education to build, where appropriate, on the statutory content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic school curriculum and in statutory guidance on: drug education, financial education, sex and relationship education (SRE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.'

The PSHE Association provides information, guidance and support for schools to help you plan, implement and assess PSHE in your school. Their curriculum guidance is really useful in making practical sense of it all and showing what it means for schools.

Their August 2015 document "The status of Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education: a briefing for school leaders and PSHE education co-ordinators" sets out the position of PSHE education in the national curriculum and outlines how the subject helps schools to fulfil their statutory duties and perform well in Ofsted inspections.

You can become a member of the PSHE Association for a small fee each year and have full access to their resources and lesson plans.

See our training, events and campaigns page for information about our upcoming training to support PSHE.