All children in England will be taught how to look after their mental health and recognise when classmates may be struggling, the education secretary has said.
On the day that the government unveils new relationships and sex education, Damian Hinds said “universal” health education would “help children learn how to look after themselves, physically and mentally”.
Today the Department for Education has published guidance for compulsory health education, compulsory relationships education for primary-age pupils and relationships and sex education (RSE) for secondary-age pupils.
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The three new subjects will be universal from 2020.
Unveiling the new guidance, Mr Hinds said: “Growing up and adolescence are hard enough, but the internet and social media add new pressures that just weren’t there even one generation ago.
“So many things about the way people interact have changed, and this new world, seamless between online and offline, can be difficult to navigate.
“Almost twenty years on from the last time guidance on sex education was updated, there is a lot to catch up on.
He went on: “Although sex education is only mandatory to teach at secondary, it must be grounded in a firm understanding and valuing of positive relationships, and respect for others, from primary age.
“In turn positive relationships are connected with good mental health, which itself is linked with physical wellbeing. So it is appropriate to make health education universal alongside relationships and sex education.”
“I’m very grateful to the many people who have fed into developing these new programmes, to equip youngsters better to deal with the world of today. It starts as it always did with the importance of friendship, kindness, taking turns; as well as learning about the pitfalls and dangers, including on the internet. It will help children learn how to look after themselves, physically and mentally, and the importance of getting away from the screen and the headphones. And it can help young people be resilient as they chart a course through an ever more complex world.”
The Department for Education said it would provide £6m of funding in 2019/20 for a school support package to cover training and resources, to ensure teachers are well-prepared ahead of the subjects becoming mandatory in 2020.
The DfE will also provide support to “early-adopter schools” who will start teaching the new content from September 2019.
Jonathan Baggaley, chief executive of the PHSE Association, commented: “We strongly welcome this government commitment to compulsory education on health, RSE and relationships.
“Parents, teachers and young people have been crying out for more focus on PSHE education, so will be delighted that this core content will be guaranteed on the school curriculum.”
