Currently, there are no plans to make road safety a mandatory part of the national curriculum. Education about safety, including road safety, is already included in the curriculum through the non-statutory framework of Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE). In addition, DfES issued ‘Safety Education: Guidance for Schools’ in 2001. This references highways as a context for safety education although it is for schools to decide on the content of their safety education programme.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been undertaking a review of the secondary National Curriculum, including PSHE. The draft programmes of study will be subject to a public consultation from 5 February and views on the statutory basis of road safety education can be expressed as part of this consultation.