PSHE Support and Healthy Schools Award

The Public Health PSHE lead works with schools to promote high quality PSHE provision for children and young people and supports engagement with Public Health initiatives for schools. PSHE leads in Buckinghamshire schools can access fully funded CPD delivered by The PSHE Association, termly PSHE forum meetings, email updates, resource alerts, and subject leader guidance. Support for School leaders is also available on request. We have a collaborative and thriving PSHE community in Buckinghamshire so check that your PSHE lead is registered on the communications list to ensure your school receives the latest local and national updates.

Public Health is currently offering termly, funded CPD to support high quality PSHE leadership. We also provide termly half day CPD sessions for KS2 teachers who deliver Sex and Puberty Education at primary level; this training is delivered in collaboration with the School Nurse Team.  For funded secondary RSE training please see link for further details https://sexualhealthbucks.nhs.uk/training-sessions/  The Public Health PSHE lead provides Governor training as part of the School Improvement Team’s Governor training programme.

 The Buckinghamshire Healthy Schools Award - funded June 2022 – May 2025, provides schools with a self-evaluation tool and criteria to deliver a whole school approach to health and wellbeing. Support to complete this award is available. Please sign up at  https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/public-health/buckinghamshire-healthy-schools-award/

Statutory Duties and the Local Offer

PSHE is a distinct and vital subject, and all schools are required to provide for PSHE education. RSHE is statutory and a core part of PSHE. High quality PSHE is both preventative and protective in terms of health and wellbeing, personal safety, safeguarding, building healthy and positive relationships, and teaching pupils how to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Relationships Education (primary) Relationships and Sex Education (secondary) and Health Education are now statutory for years 1-11, and students at 6^th form. Schools are required to provide relevant information on their websites with regards to the taught PSHE curriculum, have an up to date, published, and compliant Relationships/ RSE policy which has been consulted on with parents/carers. Schools are also required to make available to parents and carers content and materials used to teach PSHE.  Sex education at primary remains non statutory, however most schools offer this as part of their PSHE curriculum. Primary schools teaching Sex education must have an up to date, published and compliant Sex education/ RSE policy. Parental right to withdraw children from some or all sex education is a legal entitlement until three terms before their child's 16^th birthday, where students can choose to opt in. Parents/carers cannot withdraw from puberty lessons as this is part of statutory health education; schools must ensure puberty lessons do not stray into sex education.  

There is increasing emphasis on the role of statutory RSHE and safeguarding as referenced in the updated KCSIE (2024), including the importance of challenging negative cultures regarding sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviours.

Please note the current RSHE guidance published in 2019 remains statutory. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

Web Links

Head teachers, Governors, PSHE leads and teachers can access the PSHE Education page for the latest guidance, local and national updates. https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/school-improvement-and-equalities/curriculum-and-learning/pshe/

Further information and support  available on the Buckinghamshire Healthy Schools webpage: https://schoolsweb.buckscc.gov.uk/public-health/

Key Contact
Carol Stottor
Public Health PSHE Lead
Carol.Stottor@buckinghamshire.gov.uk