What Does PSHE Stand For?
Authored by the Muse Wellbeing Team
First Published on the 4th of May, 2024.
Reviewed and updated on the 18th of February, 2026.
Reviewed and updated on the 18th of February, 2026.
Lead Writer
David is a qualfied British teacher and the Muse Wellbeing director and lead curriculum developer. His main passions include education, surfing (badly) and travel.
Editor and Review
With over 15 years of experience teaching in primary schools in northern England, Charlotte has played a key role in shaping many lessons across the Muse Wellbeing curriculum.
What Does PSHE Stand For in Education?
PSHE stands for Personal, Social, Heath and Economic education. This is a core subject of learning in UK schools, with some topics (such as relationships education) within PSHE education becoming statutory from September 2020.
Topics commonly covered include relationships, health and wellbeing, making safe and healthy choices, and financial education. While core academic subjects such as English and Maths prepare children for future learning and work, PSHE education helps them develop the knowledge and skills to live happy, safe and healthy lives.
Topics commonly covered include relationships, health and wellbeing, making safe and healthy choices, and financial education. While core academic subjects such as English and Maths prepare children for future learning and work, PSHE education helps them develop the knowledge and skills to live happy, safe and healthy lives.
Why is PSHE So Important In School Curriculums?
PSHE is an important subject for students of all ages. High-quality PSHE education supports children’s safety, mental and physical wellbeing, and preparation for adult life. It is a unique subject within the curriculum. Rather than focusing on exams or academic outcomes, PSHE prepares children for the opportunities, challenges, decisions and responsibilities they will encounter throughout their lives.
Furthermore, there is a well-evidenced link between pupils’ health and wellbeing and their academic achievement. Developing strong social and life skills not only supports children in their personal lives, but also helps them become confident, engaged and effective learners.
Furthermore, there is a well-evidenced link between pupils’ health and wellbeing and their academic achievement. Developing strong social and life skills not only supports children in their personal lives, but also helps them become confident, engaged and effective learners.
How are PSHE and RSE Connected?
Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) are often discussed together, but they are not the exact same topics of learning. While the two areas overlap, they serve different purposes within the curriculum. RSHE is also commonly referred to as Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).
Since September 2020, schools have been required to deliver statutory Relationships Education and Health Education to all pupils, with sex education compulsory at secondary level. PSHE itself remains a non-statutory subject, but is widely recommended as the framework through which RSHE is taught. PSHE provides the broader curriculum context, covering areas such as wellbeing, personal development, safety and life skills that extend beyond the statutory RSHE content.
Since September 2020, schools have been required to deliver statutory Relationships Education and Health Education to all pupils, with sex education compulsory at secondary level. PSHE itself remains a non-statutory subject, but is widely recommended as the framework through which RSHE is taught. PSHE provides the broader curriculum context, covering areas such as wellbeing, personal development, safety and life skills that extend beyond the statutory RSHE content.
What is the Goal of PSHE?
The overarching goal of PSHE is to equip pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to grow into kind, respectful and confident individuals. The personal and social aspects of PSHE focus on self-worth, emotional development and relationships with others, while health education addresses the core principles of physical and mental wellbeing.
The economic element of learning introduces pupils to basic financial concepts and money management in an age-appropriate way. Together, these areas support children in developing the skills needed to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
The economic element of learning introduces pupils to basic financial concepts and money management in an age-appropriate way. Together, these areas support children in developing the skills needed to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
What Topics Does PSHE Cover?
PSHE covers a broad range of topics of learning, and these may vary slightly depending on the school’s curriculum and provision. Some of the key PSHE topics and themes covered in PSHE curriculums will usually include:
While the government provides guidance on what schools should cover, the exact PSHE curriculum is set by individual schools within statutory requirements and based on the needs of their pupils. In Key Stages 1 and 2, learning often focuses on friendships, feelings and healthy lifestyles, while later primary years introduce topics such as puberty, mental health and substance awareness in an age-appropriate way.
- Personal: Developing self-value and self-worth, understanding body image and emotions, building confidence and resilience, and developing study and learning skills that support progress and future success.
- Social: Understanding friendships and relationships, different relationship types, recognising positive and negative behaviours, managing conflict, and understanding how actions and words affect others’ feelings.
- Health: Learning how to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including food choices, physical and emotional changes during puberty, personal hygiene, substance awareness and understanding mental health and wellbeing.
- Economic: Understanding simple money and financial concepts, managing finances responsibly, making informed choices, and exploring how economic factors can influence emotions, wellbeing and everyday decision-making.
While the government provides guidance on what schools should cover, the exact PSHE curriculum is set by individual schools within statutory requirements and based on the needs of their pupils. In Key Stages 1 and 2, learning often focuses on friendships, feelings and healthy lifestyles, while later primary years introduce topics such as puberty, mental health and substance awareness in an age-appropriate way.
What are the Benefits of PSHE to Students?
Although PSHE itself is a non-statutory subject, it plays a vital role in supporting pupils’ personal development and wellbeing. Schools design their PSHE curriculum in line with statutory Relationships Education and Health Education guidance, while also responding to the needs of their pupils. Through PSHE, students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to make safe, informed and healthy choices. Key benefits of PSHE for students include:
- Developing a strong sense of identity, self-worth and confidence
- Understanding how actions, words and behaviours can affect others
- Learning how to stay safe, healthy and mentally well
- Building age-appropriate understanding of relationships, growing up and personal boundaries
Is PSHE a Compulsory Subject?
As of 2020, PSHE remains a non-statutory subject. However, the government strongly encourages schools to deliver PSHE alongside statutory Relationships Education and Health Education. Guidance from the PSHE Association supports schools in designing high-quality PSHE curricula that reflect pupils’ needs while complementing statutory requirements. This guidance highlights key areas such as relationships, health and wellbeing, substance awareness, financial education, and personal safety.
Which Students Should be Taught PSHE?
All students should be taught PSHE in some form, although the specific topics covered will vary depending on age and stage of development. For pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2, the core focus of PSHE lessons is Relationships Education. This includes exploring different types of relationships and learning how to recognise positive and negative behaviours.
Alongside this, primary PSHE may also introduce wider themes such as health and wellbeing. In upper primary, carefully planned safeguarding topics, including awareness of harmful practices, can provide opportunities to promote openness, understanding and seeking help when needed.For older students in Key Stages 3 and 4, PSHE builds on earlier learning by covering a broader range of topics. This includes developing relationships education further and introducing sex education in an age-appropriate and structured way.
Alongside this, primary PSHE may also introduce wider themes such as health and wellbeing. In upper primary, carefully planned safeguarding topics, including awareness of harmful practices, can provide opportunities to promote openness, understanding and seeking help when needed.For older students in Key Stages 3 and 4, PSHE builds on earlier learning by covering a broader range of topics. This includes developing relationships education further and introducing sex education in an age-appropriate and structured way.
Is There a Set PSHE Curriculum?
Most subjects have a set curriculum for schools to follow. However, this is not the case with PSHE, meaning many teachers face the challenge of developing a curriculum from the ground up to meet the needs of their school community and students.
Schools generally have two options:
Schools generally have two options:
- Use government guidance to develop a PSHE curriculum that meets statutory requirements, or
- Utilise a pre-made PSHE programme and scheme of work such as the Muse Wellbeing curriculum.
Creating a complete PSHE curriculum can be time-consuming and challenging, particularly when deciding where to begin. Pre-made programmes, by contrast, provide structured lessons and resources that support consistent and effective delivery without the additional planning burden.
Pre-made programmes typically include lesson plans, worksheets, presentations and supporting resources for each lesson. At Muse Wellbeing, we are experienced PSHE educators and qualified teachers. Our PSHE curriculum offers a ready-to-use solution for schools seeking a high-quality, carefully structured approach to PSHE education.
Pre-made programmes typically include lesson plans, worksheets, presentations and supporting resources for each lesson. At Muse Wellbeing, we are experienced PSHE educators and qualified teachers. Our PSHE curriculum offers a ready-to-use solution for schools seeking a high-quality, carefully structured approach to PSHE education.
Final Thoughts
PSHE aims to equip learners with the knowledge and skills they need to become well-rounded members of society. While Relationships and Health Education are statutory elements, governing bodies strongly recommend that schools invest in a broader PSHE curriculum to help pupils navigate an increasingly complex world with confidence.Teachers delivering PSHE can either create a curriculum from scratch or choose a pre-made programme such as Muse Wellbeing. Using a structured curriculum can save teachers valuable planning time while providing the resources needed to support confident, healthy and resilient learners.
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