There are no plans to make personal, social and health education (PSHE) statutory. Many aspects of PSHE—sex education, drug education and careers education—already have a statutory basis within the curriculum. In addition, there are a number of requirements on schools which support PSHE including the need for policies on bullying, promoting race equality and child protection.
The Department's priority is to improve the effectiveness of what is taught by providing clear guidance, supporting high-quality continuing professional development for teachers, identifying and disseminating good practice, and helping schools to meet the standards for PSHE required by the national healthy schools programme.