National Assembly for Wales

In Wales, Personal and Social Education (PSE) forms part of the curriculum for all registered pupils at maintained schools in Wales. Personal, Social and Health Education, often referred to as PSHE, is part of the curriculum in England.

As part of PSE, learners develop an understanding of the options available to them when they leave school, whether that is moving into full-time employment, further and higher education or training. Learners also develop skills such as self-analysis, identifying personal strengths and setting appropriate personal goals and aims.

In addition, the Careers and the World of Work (CWW) Framework for 11-19 year olds promotes careers education and prepares learners for the workplace by developing their awareness of Careers and the World of Work, and how their studies contribute to their readiness for employment. Through this learners are able to appreciate the difference between paid and unpaid work, and to recognise the importance of acquiring the new skills essential in a competitive and rapidly changing world of work.

The most common approach to CWW provision for learners is through the PSE framework. The frameworks for CWW and PSE have been designed to complement each other.

In relation to the teaching of economic wellbeing and financial capability, the PSE Framework allows learners to develop an understanding of the role and importance of money. This allows learners to understand their role and responsibilities as consumers and to cultivate a financial capability which enables them to make effective economic judgements and decisions.  At Key Stage 2, learners are given opportunities to understand the importance of looking after their money and the benefits of regular saving. At Key Stage 3, learners are given opportunities to understand the economic and ethical consequences of personal financial decision-making as a consumer, considering schemes such as Fairtrade. A Key Stage 4, learners are given opportunities to learn about their rights as consumers and their responsibilities in terms of managing a budget, the importance of planning for their financial futures and how to access financial advice. Finally, at post-16, learners are given opportunities to evaluate financial advice, take personal responsibility for financial planning and manage personal finances effectively.

Financial education is not just taught through PSE; it has been part of the school curriculum in Wales since 2008 and through the ‘Manage money’ element, has been a statutory requirement in the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF) for 5 to 14 year-olds since September 2013. 

In September 2015, a new statutory programme of study for mathematics was introduced across primary and secondary settings with the literacy and numeracy components of the LNF embedded within it, including the manage money strand. 

At the same time, we also introduced new GCSEs in Mathematics – Numeracy and Mathematics, demonstrating our commitment to equipping learners with the skills they need for functioning effectively in everyday life and employment; skills that will meet the needs of our young people and the economy.

As far as measures in place to assess PSE is concerned, there are no statutory assessment requirements for PSE. However, schools track pupils’ progression across the range of PSE learning outcomes identified in the PSE framework in order to monitor progress and plan future learning.

Elements of PSE can also be included in the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification for learners aged 14 to 19, which are externally accredited.

Estyn is however required to report on the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of learners at any school they inspect, and to report on the contribution made by the school to their well-being. In 2017, Estyn conducted a review of healthy relationships as well as a review of financial education in primary and secondary schools in Wales, Their reports provide useful evidence for the evaluation of a school’s PSE provision.