The UK Youth Parliament has voted to make the introduction of a ‘curriculum for life’ – including statutory personal, social, health, and economic education (PSHE), and sex and relationships education (SRE) – its campaign priority in England for 2017.
The British Humanist Association (BHA), which has long campaigned for compulsory, age-appropriate, and inclusive PSHE and SRE in schools, has welcomed the decision.
The vote on Friday followed a debate in the House of Commons, when the 276 elected members of the UK Youth Parliament discussed the most important issues affecting young people. Over 978,000 young people across the country were balloted to decide which topics were to be debated, and the ‘curriculum for life’ was the most popular.
The member of the Youth Parliament for Poole, Lili Donlon-Mansbridge, aged 17, said, ‘UK Youth Parliament is committed to pursuing a curriculum that prepares young people for life’, adding that ‘PSHE in the curriculum should be radically overhauled and next year Members of Youth Parliament will be campaigning to ensure this remains a priority’.
The Government has come under increasing pressure in recent months to make PSHE and SRE compulsory in schools, and the UK Youth Parliament is the latest of a long list of organisations that have called for the move. In making the recommendation, it joins, among others, five House of Commons Select Committees, the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Children’s Commissioner for England, the Chief Medical Officer, the Association of Directors of Public Health, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Association of Independent Local Safeguarding Children Boards Chairs, the NSPCC, two royal societies, six medical royal colleges, over 100 expert bodies, 85% of business leaders, 88% of teachers, 90% of parents, and 92% of young people.
Earlier this year the then Education Secretary Nicky Morgan ruled out introducing statutory PSHE and SRE, but earlier this month the Department for Education, now led by Justine Greening, confirmed that the issue was once again under review.
BHA Education Campaigner Jay Harman said, ‘It’s long past time that the Government moved to ensure that children and young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe, happy, and healthy. All the evidence demands that comprehensive, age-appropriate PSHE and SRE be introduced to achieve this, and now the young people of this country are demanding it too. We very much hope the Government is finally ready to listen, and we will certainly be doing all we can to make sure that they do.’
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For further comment or information please contact the BHA’s Education Campaigner on 020 7324 3078 or jay@humanists.uk.
Read the UK Youth Parliament’s news item: http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/news/uk-youth-parliament-calls-for-votes-at-16-in-the-house-of-commons-chamber/
Read the BHA’s previous news item: ‘Young people denied education for safe relationships in schools in England – BHA responds to Women and Equalities Committee consultation’: https://humanists.uk/2016/07/11/bha-criticises-government-stance-on-pshe-and-sre-in-submission-to-women-and-equalities-committee/
Read our previous news item ‘Government decides against statutory PSHE despite overwhelming support and expert evidence’: https://humanists.uk/2016/02/10/government-decides-against-statutory-pshe-despite-overwhelming-support-and-expert-evidence/
Read more about the BHA’s work on PSHE and Sex and Relationships Education: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/schools-and-education/school-curriculum/pshe-and-sex-and-relationships-education/
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.