The term PSHE was first introduced in the 2000 edition of the
national curriculum, as a non-compulsory element that was encouraged to be taught in schools. Whilst this was the first official introduction of the subject to the national curriculum, it had already existed in an informal context since the 1960s. The first formal introduction of a PSHE component was
Relationship and Sex Education, then known simply as sex education, as a non-statutory subject. A framework for PSHE was introduced in the 1990s, though its non-statutory status once again meant that it was not taught in some schools. In its earlier forms, the vagueness of the themes to be taught in PSHE was the subject of much criticism, with its "uncertain nature" making it difficult to teach. Until 2020, PSHE education was a non-statutory (and therefore non-compulsory) curriculum subject. However, as Ofsted stated in its 2013 PSHE report, "the great majority of schools choose to teach it because it makes a major contribution to their statutory responsibilities to promote children and young people's personal and economic wellbeing; offer sex and relationships education; prepare pupils for adult life and provide a broad and balanced curriculum". Concerns over consistency and quality and provision prompted a national campaign to raise the status of PSHE education in all schools. This was supported by over 100 organisations (including the
NSPCC,
British Heart Foundation,
Teenage Cancer Trust and Barnardo's), 85% of business leaders, 88% of teachers, 92% of parents and 92% of young people. In 2017 the government committed to introducing compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE) in all secondary schools, and compulsory 'relationships education' in all primary schools. An additional commitment to the
health education (mental and physical) aspect of PSHE education was announced in July 2018. The majority of PSHE education will therefore be compulsory in all schools from September 2020. Though not yet compulsory, schools are still expected to cover the economic wellbeing (and careers) components of PSHE education. The PSHE Association and the Sex Education Forum jointly published a 'Roadmap to Statutory RSE education' in November 2018 to support schools in preparing their relationships and sex education for statutory changes. A measure to make PSHE compulsory in primary and secondary schools in England received approval from the
House of Lords in April 2019. The Department for Education (DfE) published final statutory guidance for teaching Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education in June 2019. The consultation closed in November 2018. This guidance has replaced existing government "Sex and Relationship Education Guidance", which were last updated in 2000. The guidelines, which were also published by the House of Commons, ==National body for PSHE education ==