Personal, Social and Health Education

Lord O'Shaughnessy Excerpts

Wednesday 10th February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

Yes, it is absolutely right that parents need to be involved, as do head teachers, which is why, as I say, we are bringing together a group in order to help to develop a comprehensive array of guidance, tools and best practice for schools to use in this area.

[Lord O'Shaughnessy (Con)]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Massey, for raising this important issue, although as somebody who is involved in running schools, I am slightly wary of compelling them to do more things given how much there is already in the curriculum. I would draw my noble friend’s attention to one thing with this working group. In the PSHE Association scheme of work, which is the basis for much PSHE teaching in schools, there is no mention that I could find of character. Yet the DfE has made the development of good character the fifth pillar of its activity. Can I make sure that there is proper representation on this working group for organisations that are concerned with how schools can develop good character among pupils?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

Yes, and I can quote from the letter from the Secretary of State:

“I want PSHE to be at the heart of a whole-school ethos that is about developing the character of young people”.

I hope that that reassures the noble Lord.