Health education: part or all of the PSHE and citizenship framework?

Author: Adams Paul  

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd

ISSN: 0965-4283

Source: Health Education, Vol.103, Iss.5, 2003-08, pp. : 272-277

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Abstract

Recent alterations to the Key Stage 1 and 2 National Curriculum in England have located health education as a strand within a non-statutory framework of Personal, Social, Health education and Citizenship. Starting from the premise that health education should adopt a health-oriented approach, this paper finds the aforementioned health component lacking as a basis on which to operationalise primary school health education. Using medicines education as an example, a disease/risk factor-oriented programme is critiqued and an alternative, health-oriented perspective proposed. This alternative demonstrates how basing health education around every component of the personal, social and health education and citizenship framework can engender a health-oriented approach to health education at Key Stages 1 and 2. Finally, two cautionary notes are made concerning the adoption of this approach.