Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the subject content of personal, social health education and citizenship teaching in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and if he will make that subject a statutory component of the national curriculum.

Schools can choose to teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE). Advice for schools on teaching of the subject can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-social-health-and-economic-education-pshe/personal-social-health-and-economic-pshe-education.

The Department recently conducted an engagement process on the content of Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education, and on the status of PSHE. This involved a range of stakeholders and a public call for evidence. The Department plans to consult on draft regulations and accompanying statutory guidance shortly, before laying the regulations in the House for debate.

Citizenship remains a National Curriculum subject at secondary schools and is encouraged at primary schools. The secondary programme of study can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-citizenship-programmes-of-study.

The recommended programme of study for primary schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizenship-programmes-of-study-for-key-stages-1-and-2.