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

Housed in the Old Custom House in the dock area, one of the oldest buildings in the town. The museum illustrates the history of the major industries which the town has been home to - whaling, fishing and petroleum.

The Museum collection reflects all of these aspects of the town's history, but focuses particularly on the maritime history.

Groups and schools welcome.

Discover the history of lead mining in the Peak District and how it has shaped the landscape since Roman times. Interactive exhibits and climbing tunnels for the kids. Lots of relics to see, plus hundreds of rock and mineral specimens.

Visit the award-winning IWM North to discover powerful stories that reveal how war shapes lives, from a soldier’s last letter home to the twisted steel of New York City's World Trade Center. Housed in Daniel Libeskind’s iconic building representing a globe torn apart by conflict, IWM North offers a free day out like no other.

BHS approved Burley Lodge Equestrian Centre offer a variety of well mannered mounts for lessons, which are available from 4 years upwards.
Scenic hacks of varying lengths, flat work, jumping and cross country riding also available.

Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre is one of the very few thatched museums in the UK. The building, a typical example of a 'marine cottage orné' and Grade II listed, dates from 1811.

The museum opened in 1967. It aims, for educational and general interest to exhibit artefacts and information about the history and development of Budleigh Salterton and the Lower Otter Valley. 

See the steam trains from the golden age of the Great Western Railway in the original engine shed, with a recreation of Brunel's broad gauge railway and a typical country branch line.

Tittesworth Water is situated near to Leek, on the edge of the spectacular Peak District National Park. Open all year round, we offer a broad range of activities for those who enjoy the outdoors.

Carlton Marshes is an internationally important broadland nature reserve in the Waveney valley. The dykes and pools are teeming with wildlife and there are reed beds, flower rich meadows, marsh and woodland to explore. The education centre boasts panoramic views over the marshes, two teaching rooms, toilets and a picnic area.

Explore the crawl through mock up tunnels in the Peak District Lead Mining Museum then head over the road and under the ground for a guided tour of the real thing! Fun, educational and immersive this pair of matched attractions will fill your day nicely and stick in the mind.

Discover how the town of Belper was turned into the world’s first factory community in this great mill and museum that is free to visit for under 16s. Family friendly hands on activities and exhibits.

It is recognised as one of the most important buildings from the Industrial Revolution in the whole world!

Canal cruises offer an opportunity to do just that. Choose between the slow meandering of the motor barge and the sedate drifting of the horse drawn barge. Whichever takes your fancy, we can offer you a great day out.

Schools Visits

An incredible underground journey by boat!

Enter the inner world of the underground cave system in the heart of the Peak District National Park and absorb the atmosphere as a watery silence echoes all around you.

Set at the foot of the spectacular Winnat's Pass, high above the village of Castleton, Speedwell Cavern takes you on an incredible underground boat journey.

BHS approved facility offering lessons from around 3, an equine swimming pool, scenic hacks, cross country riding and Pony Club. Toddlers can start with led woodland pony rides.

Scenic hacks of varying lengths and cross country rides available, plus dedicated Pony Club. Absolute beginners usually start with a Walk In The Woods, a led pony or horse ride through gentle terrain.

Most of the Society’s archive is housed, by kind permission of the family of the Boer War hero, General Sir Redvers Buller, at their home, the historic Downes, on the edge of the town. Access to this is by appointment only and material is usually brought to the museum in High Street for examination.

Over 40 different activities from Tree Trekking to Tarzan swings.

Strabane District Council established its Museum service in 1997. The core of the councils museum collection is formed by "The Dunbar Collection". This is a collection which encompasses several collection areas such as photography, Victoriana, Militaria, fine arts and folklife.

Perhaps England's most impressive piece of 18th century defensive architecture, Fort Cumberland was reconstructed in pentagonal form by the Duke of Richmond between 1785 and 1810, and designed to protect Langstone Harbour.

Access is by pre-booked guided tour only.

Southsea beach is nearby.

Topsham Museum is housed in one of a group of late 17th century buildings overlooking the Exe Estuary. Following completion of a stunning new River Gallery, the Museum was 'long-listed' for the Art Fund Prize in 2008.

An ideal place for kids of all ages to experience the thrills of karting in a safe environment. We provide race suits, helmets and gloves. Our fully qualified instructors will guide your children through everything they need to know. They provide a full safety briefing before letting them out.

Discover 2000 years of The Lichfield Story through the Exhibits, Graphics, Displays and AV Presentations. Family and Mouse Hole Trails available for small kids to help keep them interested and moving round.

The Royal Marines Museum depicts history of the Royal Marines from 1664 through to present day. Personal stories of wars, battles and events of great significance, make the history of the Royal Marines comes to life.

The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre programme theatre, music, cinema, visual arts and workshops for all ages. We also have a museum, cafe / shop and craft cabinet.

A great place to relax, enjoy a coffee in the cafe, visit the shop, view some great art, look around the Museum, watch live music, theatre shows and cinema screenings or try out a new activity / workshop.

Outdoor fun and adventure for the whole family in an exciting and safe environment! We have two courses, Adventurer Course for age 4+ and X-plorer Course for teens and adults. Activities include monkey bridges, super fast Zips, Rocket Launchers and cargo nets.

The Naughton Gallery is named after its generous benefactors Martin and Carmel Naughton. Since 2001, The Gallery has become one of Belfast's most sought after and exciting visual arts platforms, featuring a rolling programme of works from the University's own collection, touring exhibitions and shows by local and international artists. The Naughton Gallery is a registered museum.

The most famous lighthouse in the British Isles is probably the Eddystone, built on a small and very dangerous reef 13 miles south south west of Plymouth.

Four famous lighthouses have been built to mark the dangerous Eddystone Reef. The original tower, completed in 1698, was the first lighthouse to be built on a small rock in the open sea.

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