What is PSHE Education?
PSHE Education (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a planned programme
of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding
and skills they need to successfully manage their lives – now and in the future. As part of a
whole-school approach, PSHE Education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to
thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.
What do schools have to teach in PSHE Education?
According to the National Curriculum, every school needs to have a broad and balanced
curriculum that:
• promotes the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of
pupils at the school;
• prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of
later life;
• promotes British values.
From September 2020, primary schools in England also need to teach Relationships and
Health Education as compulsory subjects and the Department for Education strongly
recommends this should also include age-appropriate Sex Education.
Schools also have statutory responsibilities to safeguard their pupils (Keeping Children Safe
in Education, DfE, 2019) and to uphold the Equality Act (2010).
The Jigsaw Programme supports all of these requirements and has children’s wellbeing at
its heart.