This House of Commons Library briefing provides an overview of the current rules and recent reforms to relationships and sex education in English schools.
Documents to download
-
E-petition 176555 relating to mental health education in schools (237 KB, PDF)
E-petition 176555 relating to mental health education in schools can be read on the E-petitions website.
This petition calls for the Government to make mental health education a mandatory part of primary and secondary education. At the moment, schools decide whether, and how, to provide such support, and there are concerns that support is better in some areas than others.
The Government responded to the petition, noting that schools are encouraged to teach about mental health in Personal, Social and Health Education (PHSE) and that the PSHE Association, with Government funding, has produced a guide on preparing to teach about mental health and emotional wellbeing. Since then, the PSHE association has also published a programme of study, which includes mental health at key stages 4-5 and social media at key stages 2-5.
In January 2017 the Prime Minister announced that all teachers in England will, after 3 years, receive mental health first aid training. In February 2017, the Government also released the results of a pilot, aiming to create better links between schools and child and adolescent mental health services. The Government has committed to expanding this pilot.
A green paper on children and young people’s mental health is expected later this year.
Documents to download
-
E-petition 176555 relating to mental health education in schools (237 KB, PDF)
Related posts
-
-
The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill 2019-20 was introduced by Mike Amesbury MP following the Private Members' Bills Ballot on 9 January 2020. The Bill is supported by the Government.
-
This briefing has been updated following the release of examination results in summer 2020.
