The teaching of personal, social, health, and economic education
(PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) in English
schools is being ‘fatally neglected’ by inspectors,
a major new
report by the British Humanist Association (BHA) has
revealed – with the subject receiving much less
attention than any other.
The Government has recently resisted making PSHE and SRE
compulsory, arguing in part that it is unnecessary because Ofsted
picks up any inadequate teaching in its inspections. Today's
report has been described by the BHA as 'completely undermining'
that claim.
Healthy, happy, safe?
An investigation into how PSHE and SRE are inspected in English
schools analyses over 2000 primary and secondary
school inspection reports for 2015/16.
It finds SRE was mentioned by inspectors in less than 1%
of reports and PSHE in just 14% of reports, fewer than almost all
other established subjects, including history (36%), geography
(26%), music (31%), and art (31%).
Ofsted introduced a new inspection framework and handbook in
September 2015 which placed greater emphasis on the importance of
the personal development, behaviour, and welfare of pupils. At
that time, Ofsted’s lead inspector on PSHE stated that ‘the
evidence schools provide regarding the effectiveness of their
PSHE...is more crucial than ever to informing the judgements
inspectors make’.
BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson
commented, ‘One of the many ways in which the
Government has sought to excuse its failure to make PSHE and SRE
compulsory in schools is by insisting that Ofsted is effectively
guaranteeing the subject is taught through its inspections.
Unfortunately, as this report demonstrates, that is very
clearly not the case.
‘To lay the blame at the feet of Ofsted and its inspectors would
be wrong, however. The fact is that the attention given to PSHE
by inspectors is entirely commensurate with the importance
ascribed to it by government. Ofsted certainly has an important
role to play when it comes to PSHE, as it does in other subjects,
but the only way that PSHE and SRE will meaningfully improve is
if the subject is afforded the statutory status it deserves. Only
then can we properly ensure that children are being equipped with
the knowledge and skills they need to stay healthy, happy, and
safe.’
The report’s other main findings are as follows:
- Mentions of sexual health, safe sex, and related topics were
almost entirely absent from inspectors’ reports, with only 1% of
reports referring to these issues
- Only 1% of reports mentioned issues related to gender, such
as gender discrimination, gender stereotyping, or sexism. There
were no mentions of sexual harassment or sexual violence at all,
despite a recent Women and Equalities Committee report revealing
the ‘shocking
scale’ of such incidents in schools
- Consent was mentioned in just two of the more than 2000
reports
- Pornography, online or otherwise, was mentioned in just a
single report, while ‘sexting’ was mentioned in less than 1% of
reports, despite having been recently and repeatedly identified
as a major area of
concern by the Government
- Homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic (HBT) bullying was
addressed in just 14% of reports. This is despite renewed focus
by Ofsted on HBT bullying, and a 2014 Stonewall
survey finding that 86% of secondary teachers had
identified homophobic bullying in their schools
- There was only one mention of HIV/AIDS in all the reports. It
referred to content on ‘emerging economies’ in a ‘geography
lesson’
In addition, less than 1% of reports criticised a
school’s coverage of PSHE and SRE in any way. This is
entirely at odds with the findings of Ofsted’s 2013 report into
PSHE, which revealed that the subject’s provision was
inadequate in 40% of schools.
In light of the findings, the BHA has called once again for PSHE
and SRE to be made compulsory in schools, a move that
was previously ruled
out by the Department for Education, but now appears to be
being revisited.
Reaction: ATL calls for sex and relationship
education to be made compulsory
Commenting on the report on the inspection of sex and
relationship education, by the British Humanist Association -
Healthy, Happy, Safe? An investigation into how PSHE and SRE are
inspected in English schools
(https://humanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017-01-25-FINAL-Healthy-Happy-Safe.pdf),
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers
and Lecturers (ATL), said:
“ATL calls for sex and relationship education to be made
compulsory. The Government should stop stalling and take swift
action. Ofsted inspections alone are clearly not enough to ensure
that our children and young people get the information, guidance
and support to make good decisions about sex and relationships in
an increasingly complex world.
“The British Humanist Association has carried out timely and
essential work in establishing how PSHE and SRE are inspected.
The findings are stark and should be of concern to the
Government. It is shocking that sex and relationship education is
mentioned in less than 1% of Ofsted reports, and disappointing
that PSHE is mentioned in just 14%.”
