1. How good PSHE contributes to safeguarding and good overall outcomes
Janet Palmer
Liverpool
04 November 2016
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

2. Findings of Ofsted’s 2013 PSHE survey
There is a close correlation between the grades that the schools
in the survey were awarded for overall effectiveness in their
last section 5 inspection, and their grade for PSHE.
All but two of the schools graded outstanding at their last
section 5 inspection were also graded outstanding for PSHE
education and none were less than good.
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

3. This fits well with DfE research findings …
‘Children with higher levels of emotional, behavioural, social and school well-being on average have higher levels of academic achievement and are more engaged in school, both concurrently and in later years.’
The impact of pupil behaviour and wellbeing on educational outcomes, Department for Education, 2012;
And it is not only Ofsted that has found this to be true. There are numerous studies including from the DfE.
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4. So why is PSHE an important part of schooling?
The Education Reform act states schools should prepare young people for the ‘…responsibilities and opportunities of life’ .
We expect most of today’s five year olds to:
Stay in education or training until 2029
Be part of the workforce till 2080
Live long enough to see in the next century
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5. Activity
What changes do you predict will take place between now and the end of the century?
Technologically
Socially
Politically
Economically?
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6. activity Which aspects of: - Knowledge and understanding - Skills
- Attitudes and values
are important to help prepare young people to cope with, and contribute positively to their futures?
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7. Key moments in life
Cross my first busy road without someone to watch over me
Travel to school on my own for the first time
Have my first ‘sleep over’ at a friend’s home
Travel into town on my own for the first time
Experience my first 'dare'
Make my first decision to spend my own money
Question if my body looks okay schools
Make my first independent decision about my diet and exercise
Witness or experience my first incident of bullying, either in person or online
Experience the start of puberty
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8. More key moments … Experience my first bereavement
Witness or experience my first incident of homophobia or transphobia ingrained-attitudes-at-school
Witness or experience my first incident of racism
Open my first savings account
Go on my first date
Have my first kiss
Fall in love (or lust) for the first time
Meet my first boyfriend or girlfriend
Have my first sexual experience
Be offered a cigarette for the first time
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9. More key moments …
Be offered and perhaps have my first taste of alcohol
Make my first decision about drug use
Have my first opportunity to become a member of different groups, perhaps have my first opportunity to join a gang
Make a choice about my career path
Live my first day when I am responsible in law for my own actions
Sign my first legally binding contract
Take on my first financial debt
Attend my first interview
Have my first day at college or at my first job
Live my first day on my own
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10. When pshe is good or outstanding
Pupils demonstrate excellent personal and social skills
They form open, harmonious and trusting relationships that enable them to express their feelings and opinions.
Typically, pupils would listen well to each other in PSHE education lessons, ask thoughtful questions of their teacher and each other and use sound evidence to justify their own views.
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

11. Outstanding sRE in a Catholic school
‘Everyone has such confidence in the school and the teachers – you can ask anyone for help and you don’t feel judged’
‘We can always write down any questions and the teacher will answer them next lesson – but as we get older and more confident we just ask whatever we like - knowing that it will be taken seriously’
‘We learn about the possible outcomes of the choices we may make – to help us make the choices that are right for us’
relationships-education-in-a-catholic-context
John Henry Newman Catholic School
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12. When PSHE is good or outstanding …
All pupils share a sense of pride in the contribution they make in school: For example, as school and eco-council representatives and playground leaders.
Older pupils may plan and deliver PSHE education lessons for younger pupils, become involved in the local youth parliament and help with environmental planning around the school.
Through effective monitoring, schools ensure that all pupils are encouraged and have an opportunity to make a genuine, valued and recognised contribution to school life.
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13. When PSHE is good or outstanding …
Pupils can describe what they have learnt in PSHE with maturity and enthusiasm
They have the confidence to discuss and debate sensitive and controversial issues in PSHE education lessons, socially around the school, and with visitors.
They have the self-assurance to disagree, while respecting the differing views of others.
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14. Walton High, Milton Keynes
‘If we don’t think a PSHE topic has been relevant or useful to us, then with our help, it is adapted and improved for when it’s run again.’ 
‘At first I was slightly apprehensive having PSHE. I thought post−16 students didn’t need the support, but after the last 10 months I wouldn’t be without it.’
‘ -personal-social-health-and-enterprise-education
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15. When PSHE is good or outstanding …
Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and skills. They use a range of well-chosen and imaginative resources to support learning, such as case studies, scenarios, visual images and video clips with thought- provoking messages.
They draw on current regional and national research and statistical data to illustrate and exemplify lesson content.
They are skilful in teaching sensitive and controversial topics and use questioning effectively.
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16. Unfortunately the Ofsted survey found that ……
Teaching required improvement in 42% of primary and 38% of secondary schools.
Too many teachers lacked expertise in teaching sensitive and controversial issues, which resulted in some topics such as sexuality, mental health and domestic violence being omitted from the curriculum.
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17. Ofsted’s definitions of safeguarding …
Now includes:
bullying, including cyberbullying (by text message, on social networking sites, and so on) and prejudiced-based bullying
racist, disablist, and homophobic or transphobic abuse
radicalisation and extremist behaviour
child sexual exploitation and trafficking
sexting
substance misuse
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18. More definitions of safeguarding
neglect
domestic violence
teenage relationship abuse
issues that may be specific to a local area or population, for example gang activity and youth violence
particular issues affecting children including domestic violence, sexual exploitation, FGM and forced marriage
Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings Ofsted August 2015
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19. DfE guidance on safeguarding
Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure children are taught about safeguarding, including online, through teaching and learning opportunities, as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum. This may include covering relevant issues through personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), tutorials (in FE colleges) and/or, for maintained schools and colleges, through sex and relationship education (SRE).
Keeping children safe in education: Statutory guidance for schools and colleges 2016
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20. Ofsted’s findings …
SRE requires improvement in over 1/3 of schools. In primary there is too much emphasis on friendships and relationships, leaving pupils ill-prepared for physical and emotional changes during puberty.
In secondary schools there is too much emphasis on ‘the mechanics’ of reproduction and too little on relationships, sexuality, the influence of pornography on students’ understanding of healthy sexual relationships, dealing with emotions and staying safe.
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
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21. Ofsted’s findings …
‘Lack of high-quality, age-appropriate sex and relationships education in more than a third of schools is a concern as it may leave children and young people vulnerable to inappropriate sexual behaviours and sexual exploitation’.
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
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22. Key message from findings ...
‘This is because they have not been taught the appropriate language or developed the confidence to describe unwanted behaviours or know where to go to for help’.
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

23. The facts
In a Childline survey of year old, 60% said they had been asked for a sexual image or video of themselves
NSPCC (2013) Childline Survey
59% of girls aged 13 to 21 have experienced sexual harassment at school, college work in the last year
Girlguiding, ‘What girls think – the 2014 Girls’ Attitudes Survey (2015)
Police recorded at least 2,956 reports of sexual abuse of children in schools between 2011 and 2013 with more than half committed by other children
The Independent 22 August 2014
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24. The facts
25% of girls aged 11 to 21 feel pressure to dress in a sexy way
Relationship abuse between young people: information for schools NSPCC 2013
60% of young people say they are first exposed to pornography at aged 14 or younger
BBC Three survey 2014
85% of young people are never taught anything about the biological or physical aspects of same-sex relationships
Stonewall – The School Report (2012)
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25. What the pupils want ‘How about something on sex abuse?’ Girl Year 9
‘I think that they would become more useful if you were to be given examples of what you might come up against. I think that you should be taught what to do and how to react in different situations.’ Girl Year 9
‘How about something on sex abuse?’ Girl Year 9
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

26. What the pupils want
‘Rape culture. What to look for in a healthy relationship.’ Girl Year 12
‘The influence of the media such as porn on people’s views of sex and the human body.’ Boy Year 10
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

27. PSHE good practice reports
Learning about healthy relationships, abuse and consent – Notre Dame RC School Plymouth relationships-abuse-and-consent
High quality relationships and sex education: Cale Green Primary School, Stockport and-sex-education-cale-green-primary
Promoting positive body image within primary schools – Oak Cottage Primary School, Solihull image-within-primary-schools
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28. Safeguarding skills
In just under half of schools, pupils had received lessons about staying safe but few had developed the skills to effectively apply their understanding, such as the assertiveness skills to stand up for themselves and negotiate their way through difficult situations.
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

29. FGM – a teacher’s responsibility?
lack of information about their body, their human rights and protection in law contributes to the continued failure of girls to resist or report the illegal practice of female genital mutilation which the Home Office estimates as a risk factor for 24,000 girls under the age of 15 in the United Kingdom.
FGM support for schools:
Not Yet Good Enough: PSHE education in schools Ofsted 2013
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

30. Support and advice for schools
The most recent Government advice on SRE dates from the year 2000
In response to the Government’s unwillingness to update the guidance the PSHE Association, Brook and the Sex Education Forum in 2014 published ‘Sex and Relationships Education for the 21st Century’ as supplementary advice.
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

31. Leadership and management
In the School Inspection Handbook inspectors are guided to consider:
the effectiveness of governors in discharging their core statutory functions (these include ensuring provision for careers advice and guidance; promoting pupils physical, mental, emotional, social and economic wellbeing; protecting pupils from harm and neglect)
the work to raise awareness and keep pupils safe for the dangers of abuse, sexual exploitation, radicalisation and extremism, and what the school does when it suspects that pupils are vulnerable to these
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32. When PSHE is good or outstanding …
Leaders and managers believe that pupils’ success in PSHE education is central to their overall success. As a result, the subject is high profile, well-resourced and supported by a governing body that understand the aims and aspirations of PSHE education.
Subject leaders are trained in leadership and the high expectations of teachers and support staff are supported by regular, high-quality subject-specific training and the provision of good-quality resources.
Janet Palmer Education Consultancy

33. In conclusion …
It should come as no surprise that the key features of good and outstanding practice in PSHE mirror good and outstanding practice in any subject in the curriculum
Research and Ofsted’s own PSHE survey show that the knowledge, skills, qualities and attitudes that pupils develop through a good PSHE education can both help to:
safeguard them
enhance their SMSC development
enhance their achievement in all areas of school life and beyond.
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34. Thank you
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