Schools that neglect health education could be ‘actively harming’ pupils

Schooling in England is neglecting, and could be ‘actively harming’, the health and wellbeing of students, a group of academics has warned.

They argue that education policy is increasingly encouraging schools to “maximise academic attainment and ignore broad wellbeing, personal development and health”.

They have called for PSHE to be made a statutory subject and for “health education” to be integrated into the wider curriculum.

The claims come in an editorial written by academics from the Institute of Education, including Chris Bonell, professor of sociology and social policy, and Rona Campbell, professor of public health research, and published by the British Medical Journal.

The article cites evidence showing that a focus on health promotion, both explicit teaching and via the school environment, improves academic outcomes.