Who teaches PSHE in secondary schools?

[MyBrexitUnicornDied]

Hi I’m sure there’s someone (or quite a few people) who are knowledgeable regarding PSHE.

It’s something I’m really interested in but I’m not sure who actually teaches PSHE in schools. It is done by school nurses, the regular teaching staff or external agencies?

Would really appreciate any information people are willing to provide. Thanks so much.

It's usually the form tutor isn't it?

So the regular teaching staff, but to their tutor group.

In our school (we're in Scotland) the PHSE lessons are taken by the Guidance staff. My son's guidance teacher is a history teacher, she does about half history and half PHSE each week. Other guidance teachers in the school come from other subjects.

PHSE isn't all just sex education and health - there's a lot more to it than that.

In the school I work in, the form teacher teaches it to his/her form. Once a week, we have a 30 minute form period and it is done then.

Was the same in the schools I trained in as well.

Depends. The different ways I know of are:

PSHE days where outside guests come in.
Form tutor
Specialist teacher(s)

the tutor teaches their own tutorgroup

Form tutors in our school.

Mixture of citizenship covering it with some specialist sessions (outside speakers) and drop-down days. Some is covered in other subject areas too.

Depends on the model in the particular school. Sometimes form tutors, sometimes whoever has space on their timetable. Both with as many guest speakers as possible. I did once meet a citizenship teacher on INSET, but this is super rare

Totally varies.

You might be interested in this: consult.education.gov.uk/pshe/relationships-education-rse-health-education/

I work for the careers service in Scotland and we have input into S1 - S6 PSE at least once a year. There can often be other outside agencies too.

I don’t like form tutors doing everything phse related as they aren’t always well equipped for the sex and relationships component , for example. You need outside support for aspects of it.

I did the finance sessions (was a physics teacher) as I had a slot on my timetable. It was really hard work. The kids couldn't have cared less and would often refuse to do the work/ research I set. They wouldn't even watch the videos (if I could get the sound to work).

We covered the curriculum as a carousel, so I had the same 6 sessions all year and the classes moved between topics/ teachers.

Form tutors. I hate teaching it although I find some aspects interesting and I think I am reasonably good at it. The HoPSHE plans lessons for the whole year. Kids take it seriously until Year 10.

Previous school, Humanities teachers taught it although odd lessons given to anyone who had a light timetable. Much better.

The best model I have seen was a subject specialist who happened to be an amazing teacher. He saw pretty well every child in the school over the fortnightly timetable - what a job!

As others have said, it's usually the form tutor. I enjoy doing it personally.

In my school it's taught by teachers of all subjects - where possible, the students' form tutor otherwise teachers who have free periods in their timetable (i.e. a spare period leftover after their allocated subject teaching).

I think this is pretty standard.

Thanks so much for the replies. Sorry I’ve not been on sooner. The links are much appreciated.

The best model I have seen was a subject specialist who happened to be an amazing teacher. He saw pretty well every child in the school over the fortnightly timetable - what a job

Wow that sounds incredible. I have to admit the plan of it being done by form tutors doesn’t sound ideal.

Wow that sounds incredible. I have to admit the plan of it being done by form tutors doesn’t sound ideal.

why not? form tutors know students better than anyone, and it is normally only one lesson a week, or the equivalent.

One person seeing every child in the school once a week means he will hardly know any of them.

Children benefit from having a personal relationship with the person teaching them PSHE

I think you need specialist input for some topics though. Always good to get outside agencies involved where appropriate.

why not? form tutors know students better than anyone, and it is normally only one lesson a week, or the equivalent

If the form tutor is very well trained it would be great. But what if they are not? As urban says speacialist knowledge is sometimes required.

Hopefully PSHE will become more important in secondary schools. Does every teacher in the school have the time or energy to train in PSHE?

Sex Ed from a reluctant and emotionally shy teacher - who may be great at teaching maths or music or whatever - can be excruciating.

Mechanics of sex ed get done in science.
Sex and relationships education gets covered in PSHE.

PSHE is taught by the form tutor everywhere I've worked but I do know of schools who have humanities and RE staff teaching it.

Personally I like teaching PSHE but know many form tutors who don't.

Does every teacher in the school have the time or energy to train in PSHE?

no, teachers don't train in every single subject they teach, how could they, I don't know what lessons I will be teaching next term, maybe a subject I have never taught before.

The issues is much bigger than PSHE - it is lack of teachers and everybody having to box and cox.

But form tutors get training in tutoring, which covers PHSE to some extent, so better trained than for a lot of other subjects

That’s where I think we are so lucky in London as there are loads of great charities and organisations like Jimmy Mizen who cover some of the phse issues our children face, and do it so well.