PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) can mean all things to all people, but in a positive way. It enables schools to analyse what they offer to students and to use PSHE programmes to provide the final rounded curriculum. This is not easy as PSHE is not so much a ‘subject’ as a group of learning experiences that need careful binding together lest they become amorphous.

PSHE at its best brings emotional literacy, social skills and healthy attitudes to the core studies of the history, economic state and social make-up of the local and wider community

Ofsted has praised some schools’ multi-faceted approaches to creating a caring and coherent school and reaching out to the local communities, and some schools for delivering sex and relations programmes effectively, and some for their commitment to equality and diversity. Visits and activities outside the classroom can act not only as focal points for a school’s work but as catalysts to reinforce the messages contained in the courses.

In some ways it does not matter where the visit is to. The importance is how well they are planned, the matching of the experiences to the aim, and the enthusiasm staff and students bring to it.

So, typically learning for PSHE takes place whilst undertaking other activities. Here we list a range of ideas which the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom suggest as activities which can engender excellent experiences to benefit students in this area.

Attitudes and values

  • Talking about an object in a museum, or visiting a place of worship can give insight into issues, other cultures or periods of history.
  • Creating your own work of art can give rise to explorations and understandings about the world and our place in it
  • A visit to a farm can stimulate debate about animal husbandry and food production, and provide a context for designing a Fairtrade enterprise.
  • Adventure education can provide opportunities to show different skills, such as leadership or teamwork.
  • Seeing a play on the stage can bring a text alive and stimulate conversations about the values and actions of the characters.
  • A residential can provide a different setting for conversations about what we believe and what we think is important.

Confidence and resilience

  • Learning a new skill, such as map-reading or how to look at a painting, builds independence and confidence.
  • Adventure education enables young people to test themselves in various ways and develop new aptitudes and dispositions.
  • For young people with disabilities, a residential trip can foster independence and give them a rare opportunity to build close relationships outside the family.
  • Planning their own experience or activity helps young people to gain confidence in a wide range of project planning skills.  It can develop resilience in dealing with conflicting opinions, and in finding solutions to project challenges.

Communication and social skills

  • A drama workshop requires teamwork and helps, to strengthen friendship groups.
  • A residential experience enables staff to get to know young people, and young people get to know each other, discovering different aspects of each others’ personalities.
  • An experience, such as visiting a power station, stimulates discussion and encourages young people to share ideas and opinions.
  • A musical performance gives young people a feeling of achievement and a sense of personal success.
  • Young people planning their own programme or activities gives them voice and choice and ensures their active involvement.
  • Undertaking voluntary work in the community gives young people a sense of making a positive contribution.

Knowledge of the world beyond the classroom

  • Young people who live in the country may encounter a town or city for the first time or vice versa.
  • Environmentalists, town planners, artists, curators, scientists, politicians, musicians, dancers and actors can all act as new and powerful role models.
  • Going to an arts venue can encourage young people to try the experience again.
  • Recording the reminiscences of older people gives young people new insight into their community, and brings historical events alive.
  • Going to a local civic institution like a town hall builds knowledge of how communities function.
  • A school or youth council enables young people to learn about and participate in democratic processes
  • Visiting the library enables young people to find out what they have to offer – apart from lending books.
  • Children and young people with profound learning difficulties and disabilities may not often experience visits to galleries, concerts or the countryside because of the difficulties of transport and personal care which parents have to consider and cannot always manage alone. Educational visits may provide the only means for these young people to have such experiences.

Physical development and well-being

  • Visiting a park, field studies centre or making a school garden all provide physical activity and develop an interest in the environment.
  • Participating in recreational activities help to develop physical well-being and the growth of confidence.
  • Many learning outside the classroom activities can also provide attractive alternatives to competitive sports and can lead to a lifelong interest in healthy physical recreation.

Emotional spiritual and moral development

  • An integrated dance workshop with able bodied and disabled participants can help young people empathise and develop awareness of disability.
  • Activities in the natural environment can encourage a feeling of awe and wonder, and an appreciation of silence and solitude.
  • Visiting a place of worship develops an understanding of religion, reflection and spirituality.
  • Engaging with young people in conversations about values and beliefs, right and wrong, good and bad supports their moral development.

Main organisations:

PSHE Association

National Centre for Citizenship and the Law

Inclusion: NASEN

Venues for this Curriculum

STUDYTRIPS is one of the largest independent and most respected educational travel companies in the UK.
 

We are one of the premier minigolf venues in England and proud to be so. The course, which is situated on the bank of the river Avon, maintains a good test of skill and judgement for players of all levels. Open since 2001, we have enjoyed entertaining visitors from all over the world.

We are the organisation to encourage the people of Greater Manchester to recycle more and recycle better.

The community we live and work in needs to appreciate waste as a valuable resource. We have to recycle it. We all need to lead the way, to drive it forward and take the initiative.

Oxfordshire's premier climbing wall

Modern open climbing facility with kids' clubs and courses from age 7 upwards. Features include bouldering room, bottom rope wall and Walltopia lead tower.

We seek to change lives and the perceptions people have about the world they live in. We do this by creating lasting partnerships between different groups who share the same vision of allowing young people to understand and experience different cultures to enable them to contribute to building a better global village.

Truly bespoke educational travel.

Every school trip we operate is designed to match your curriculum and meet your learning objectives – once we have taken the time to understand your requirements we will work together to build a trip that best suits your group's objectives and budget.

Multi-activity/sports day camp during all school holidays; for ages 3-13; North London; registered under The Children Act and Ofsted inspected.

Close supervision specialists in swimming, squash, tennis; with qualified teachers/lifeguards and instructors; directors have been operating camps for over 30 years, with a safety record second to none.

Outlook Expeditions is committed to safe, secure and responsible tailor-made expeditions. Every expedition is exciting, inspiring and packed full of adventure. Our expeditions develop young people’s life skills by putting them in the driving seat under the guidance of the finest Expedition Leaders.

A purpose built trampoline centre welcoming all ages and abilities. Reach for the sky as you bounce on our Olympic sized trampolines. Our expert instructors will teach you how to perform awesome skills and tricks in a safe environment.

Madrenaline is ideal for adrenaline junkies aged 10 and over, who would like to try something a bit different.

Specialist Classical Tours

Hellene Travel, is an educational travel company with a difference. We specialise in classical tours, concentrating primarily on Greek, Roman, Turkish and Croatian archeological and cultural sites. 

A much-loved local landmark, this heated outdoor pool has been providing family summer fun and great memories in Summer since 1934. Large outdoor pool with fun areas for the kids. Sun-beds, play areas and refreshments make this the ideal summer destination.

Hinksey Outdoor Pool is a large heated outdoor pool located close to the centre of Oxford.

Lying just a few miles from the centre of Glasgow, this unique villa has been described as Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's finest domestic design. It was built in 1857-8 for James Couper, a local businessman.

Many rooms are richly ornamented in wood, plaster and marble. School groups are welcome. Please contact the Education Officer at Pollok House for details.

FHT Travel Ltd provides a knowledgeable and professional student group travel services, with bespoke visits based on each institute’s subject specialism needs and offering great value for money. Whilst away, a full and varied programme can be arranged, giving students the ideal opportunity to enhance their studies away from the institute. 

ABTA and ATOL Bonded

Equity are specialists who will work with you to deliver fantastic learning experiences for young people that inspire them in the classroom and everyday life. We have been providing groups with inspiring school trips for over 80 years, which is why we are the best at what we do.

Regional Travel Advisors

Galloway School Tours provides tailored educational tours of the highest quality to destinations within Europe and the UK.   

One of the longest established school tour operators, the company has its own modern fleet of first class vehicles,  driven by experienced drivers, which transport the majority of its groups.   

Dany Duncan set up ElementalUK in 2006 to enable people to get closer to the elements – whether by immersing themselves in the thrills and spills of the Cornish coast or hitting natural highs in the mountains of France. 

Fast. Efficient. Working for you.

Diverse School Travel is a passionate and vibrant business, offering schools & colleges wonderful and exciting educational and cultural tours throughout the UK, Europe, and beyond. 

Inspiring and stimulating, exciting and motivating – science and geography have never been this good! Discover Ltd. operates a field study centre in the Cevennes National Park in France and welcomes students from across the UK and around the world.

Specially-designed Junior Circuit that enables aspiring racers to learn the craft in a safe, yet challenging, environment.

Kart racing is the best and safest way for young people to learn the disciplines of motor sport. In fact, you will find that most successful racing drivers today began their careers in this exciting field.

With over 30 years’ experience, Club Europe are industry leaders in group travel for both UK and international students.

Family friendly tenpin bowling, with bumpers and ball ramps for the kids.

The Specialist School HIstory Travel Company

Anglia Tours Ltd specialises in high quality fully guided tours to a range of locations in the UK and across Europe, particularly battlefields and historic sites. Each tour is led by a highly experienced guide, selected not only for their expertise but also their ability to engage with audiences and to share their enthusiasm for the sites we visit.

ABTA & ATOL bonded

321ski and 321dive uniquely offer school ski and dive trips that are ‘Designed by Teachers’. Founded by former teachers intent on raising the quality and integrity of school trips, 321 delivers the standard of school trip that our teacher colleagues would be delighted with. 

Adaptable Travel provides innovative educational tours for thousands of passengers each academic year from schools, colleges and universities. We pride ourselves on offering unique, safe and low-cost school trips and study tours. 

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