A statutory Health Education subject would benefit its pupil’s education for example by providing Sexual and Mental health awareness. An insight into their own health which could have numerous long term benefits e.g. prevent/reduce underage pregnancies and risk awareness. In 2010 the UK had the highest rate of teenage birth and abortion within West Europe (FPA, 2010). While recent statistics show a much lower rates (Department for Education, 2015). Different factors could be the cause of this change in rates but it shows that pupils still need to be made aware of their sexual health. There is a need for a statutory Health Education. A 2013 review of PSHE identified issues and failing standards within some schools (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, 2013). One of the issues …show more content…
There are also reports and petitions wanting PSHE to become statutory (PSHE Association, 2016) (PSHE Association, 2015). Health education as a new included statutory subject within the national curriculum could mean that the most important themes within PSHE and citizenship regarding health could be taught within Health Education. Health Education can benefit pupil’s general education, by applying knowledge to enable pupils to make their own decisions regarding their own health as well as adapting their health behavior. An example could be shown in the Smoking rates in USA dropping after the 1964 release of a report highlighting the dangers (Glanz, et al., 2008). While this is an American statistic, it still shows that knowledge can change behavior. So by teaching knowledge about health, it can be applied within their own lifestyle and as discusses by PSHE Association, enable them to become positive members of society (PSHE Association,