Relationship, Drug and Alcohol Education (Curriculum) Bill (HC Bill 73)
A
BILL
TO
Require the Secretary of State to make provision to include relationship, drug
and alcohol education in the national curriculum; and for connected purposes.
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
1 Personal, social and health education in maintained schools
(1)
In section 84(3) of the Education Act 2002 (curriculum foundation subjects for
the first, second and third key stages), after paragraph (g) there is inserted—
“(ga) personal, social and health education.”
(2)
5In section 85(4) of the Education Act 2002 (curriculum foundation subjects for
the fourth key stage), at the end there is inserted “, and
“(d) personal, social and health education.”
(3)
In section 74(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, which (when
brought into force) will substitute a new section 85 in the Education Act 2002,
10in subsection (4) of that substituted section (foundation subjects for the fourth
key stage), at the end there is inserted “, and
“(d) personal, social and health education.”
(4) Before section 86 of the Education Act 2002 there is inserted—
“85B Personal, social and health education
(1)
15For the purposes of this Part, personal, social and health education
(“PSHE”) shall comprise—
(a) education about alcohol and tobacco;
(b)
information about illegal recreational drugs and new
psychoactive substances;
(c) 20education about emotional health and well-being;
(d)
sex and relationship education, including information about
same-sex relationships, sexual violence, domestic violence and
sexual consent;
(e) education about individual safety.
Relationship, Drug and Alcohol Education (Curriculum) BillPage 2
(2)
The National Curriculum for England is not required to specify
attainment targets or assessment arrangements for PSHE (and section
84(1) has effect accordingly).
(3)
The Secretary of State for Education shall set out guidance to schools
5and colleges to ensure that a coherent approach to personal, social,
health and economic education is developed, including between
primary and secondary schools.
(4)
It is the duty of the governing body and head teacher of any school in
which PSHE is provided in pursuance of this Part to secure that
10guidance issued under subsection (3) is followed and principles set out
in subsections (5) to (7) are complied with.
(5)
The first principle is that information presented in the course of
providing PSHE should be accurate and balanced.
(6) The second principle is that PSHE should be taught in a way that—
(a)
15is appropriate to the ages of the pupils concerned and to their
religious and cultural backgrounds, and also
(b)
reflects a reasonable range of religious, cultural and other
perspectives.
(7) The third principle is that PSHE should be taught in a way that—
(a) 20endeavours to promote equality,
(b) encourages acceptance of diversity, and
(c) emphasises the importance of both rights and responsibilities.
(8)
In the exercise of their functions under this Part so far as relating to
PSHE, a local authority, governing body or head teacher shall have
25regard to any guidance issued from time to time by the Secretary of
State.”
2 Short title, commencement and extent
(1)
This Act may be cited as the Relationship, Drug and Alcohol Education
(Curriculum) Act 2013.
(2)
30This Act comes into force at the end of the period of one month beginning with
the day on which it is passed.
(3) This Act does not extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.