To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor John Joseph Kelly:
A Curriculum to Prepare Young People in Sefton for Life
This Council believes that as part of the Sefton 2030 Vision young people need to be better prepared for their transition into adulthood to achieve the goals set in this vision. This can be done through existing provision for young people for example, via schools and youth provision.
This Council notes that for the last two years Curriculum for Life has been voted in the top 3 in the annual Make Your Mark Ballot. This ballot asks young people to vote for a topic from a list of 10 issues as part of the National UK Youth Parliament Work. In 2017 out of 5,929 votes cast 1,002 were received for this issue.
There are currently 12 statutory subjects that have to be taught and assessed in schools. Personal, Health, Social and Economic Education (PHSE) is a non-statutory subject. We believe that to give young people the best start in life a Curriculum for Life is an important part to support young people to reach their full potential.
From the Make Your Mark Results and through conversations the Youth Cabinet have had with other young people, we recognise that PHSE education is often squeezed from the curriculum in many schools or taught very irregularly which is not recommended by experts such as the PHSE association.
Sefton Youth Cabinet through consultation with their peers, via school and online, believes there should be 9 key Curriculum for Life topics taught to all young people in Sefton.
Sefton Youth Cabinet has looked closely at these 9 topics and identified the reasons why they are important and should be part of the Curriculum for Life. They chose these topics as they believe these are the skills essential for the transition into adulthood and to fulfil their potential in society. The following 9 Topics appear in no particular order or priority:
1. Media: We believe young people need to be taught the skills that empower and enable them to use the media to inform their views and opinions rather than ‘solely believing what they see and read is correct’. We are also asking for more positive news stories about young people to reach the public domain.
2. Drugs and alcohol: It is currently a difficult time for some young people in relation to understanding drugs and alcohol. Drugs can be widely available. We believe we should be taught about the effects of drugs and alcohol. However, if young people still decide to take them, they should know how to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
3. Sex and Relationships: The potential impact of the lack of a good sex education can be life changing. Young people’s sex education needs to include use of contraceptives, consent, sexuality and gender, healthy relationships and STI’s. We understand this may be difficult in religious schools. However, every young person should know where to attend to receive this information. (School nurses, youth centres or sexual health centres / clinics.)
4. Politics: We believe all young people need to be taught about politics, how the system works, how decisions are made and how to register and vote. We believe this is an essential part of their future as politics will affect their everyday lives from transport, taxes, spending and many other things. Without the voice of everyone being heard how can that meet the needs of the young people.
5. Community Cohesion: We believe promoting love and understanding can lead to greater community cohesion. With there being such a diversity of people where we live and throughout the world, we need to understand how everyone lives to respect them in real life.
6. Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing : Mental and emotional issues cannot always be seen, speaking and discussing it still has a stigma and few people are willing to listen to young people about it. We believe that when delivered well, mental health and emotional wellbeing education can promote positive outcomes for us, reduce stigma, and increase awareness of the issue and support available. This will help improve young people’s mental health as they transition into adulthood – reducing the likelihood of problems when they are older.
7. Body Image: We believe eating disorders and attitudes towards perceptions of what is a good body image is a big problem at the moment due to magazines and other forms of media, including social media showing celebrities posting photo shopped images.
8. Finance: We believe finance is essential and should be taught to all young people so they don’t get into debt, use gambling as income or use payday loans. Therefore, when they transition into adulthood they can successfully manage their finances.
9. We believe young people should be taught about their online safety and privacy to reduce online bullying incidents, safeguard young people from harm when using the internet and how to report and get support if they feel this is an issue.
This Council resolves to:
1. approve the principles of Curriculum for Life;
2. request the Head of Schools and Families to approach the Schools Association of Secondary Heads to encourage all Secondary Schools in Sefton to deliver a curriculum for life skills as part of the Curriculum;
3. promote the use of Curriculum for Life in services delivered to young people in Sefton; and
4. Instructs the Chief Executive to write to all three Sefton MP’s, Peter Dowd, Bill Esterson and Damien Moore requesting them to lobby the Department for Education seeking for the inclusion of “Life Skills” to be included nationally as part of the Secondary School Curriculum. `
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor John Joseph Kelly and seconded by Councillor Lappin:
A Curriculum to Prepare Young People in Sefton for Life
This Council believes that as part of the Sefton 2030 Vision young people need to be better prepared for their transition into adulthood to achieve the goals set in this vision. This can be done through existing provision for young people for example, via schools and youth provision.
This Council notes that for the last two years Curriculum for Life has been voted in the top 3 in the annual Make Your Mark Ballot. This ballot asks young people to vote for a topic from a list of 10 issues as part of the National UK Youth Parliament Work. In 2017 out of 5,929 votes cast 1,002 were received for this issue.
There are currently 12 statutory subjects that have to be taught and assessed in schools. Personal, Health, Social and Economic Education (PHSE) is a non-statutory subject. We believe that to give young people the best start in life a Curriculum for Life is an important part to support young people to reach their full potential.
From the Make Your Mark Results and through conversations the Youth Cabinet have had with other young people, we recognise that PHSE education is often squeezed from the curriculum in many schools or taught very irregularly which is not recommended by experts such as the PHSE association.
Sefton Youth Cabinet through consultation with their peers, via school and online, believes there should be 9 key Curriculum for Life topics taught to all young people in Sefton.
Sefton Youth Cabinet has looked closely at these 9 topics and identified the reasons why they are important and should be part of the Curriculum for Life. They chose these topics as they believe these are the skills essential for the transition into adulthood and to fulfil their potential in society. The following 9 Topics appear in no particular order or priority:
1. Media: We believe young people need to be taught the skills that empower and enable them to use the media to inform their views and opinions rather than ‘solely believing what they see and read is correct’. We are also asking for more positive news stories about young people to reach the public domain.
2. Drugs and alcohol: It is currently a difficult time for some young people in relation to understanding drugs and alcohol. Drugs can be widely available. We believe we should be taught about the effects of drugs and alcohol. However, if young people still decide to take them, they should know how to do so in a safe and responsible manner.
3. Sex and Relationships: The potential impact of the lack of a good sex education can be life changing. Young people’s sex education needs to include use of contraceptives, consent, sexuality and gender, healthy relationships and STI’s. We understand this may be difficult in religious schools. However, every young person should know where to attend to receive this information. (School nurses, youth centres or sexual health centres / clinics.)
4. Politics: We believe all young people need to be taught about politics, how the system works, how decisions are made and how to register and vote. We believe this is an essential part of their future as politics will affect their everyday lives from transport, taxes, spending and many other things. Without the voice of everyone being heard how can that meet the needs of the young people.
5. Community Cohesion: We believe promoting love and understanding can lead to greater community cohesion. With there being such a diversity of people where we live and throughout the world, we need to understand how everyone lives to respect them in real life.
6. Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing : Mental and emotional issues cannot always be seen, speaking and discussing it still has a stigma and few people are willing to listen to young people about it. We believe that when delivered well, mental health and emotional wellbeing education can promote positive outcomes for us, reduce stigma, and increase awareness of the issue and support available. This will help improve young people’s mental health as they transition into adulthood – reducing the likelihood of problems when they are older.
7. Body Image: We believe eating disorders and attitudes towards perceptions of what is a good body image is a big problem at the moment due to magazines and other forms of media, including social media showing celebrities posting photo shopped images.
8. Finance: We believe finance is essential and should be taught to all young people so they don’t get into debt, use gambling as income or use payday loans. Therefore, when they transition into adulthood they can successfully manage their finances.
9. We believe young people should be taught about their online safety and privacy to reduce online bullying incidents, safeguard young people from harm when using the internet and how to report and get support if they feel this is an issue.
This Council resolves to:
1. approve the principles of Curriculum for Life;
2. request the Head of Schools and Families to approach the Schools Association of Secondary Heads to encourage all Secondary Schools in Sefton to deliver a curriculum for life skills as part of the Curriculum;
3. promote the use of Curriculum for Life in services delivered to young people in Sefton; and
4. Instructs the Chief Executive to write to all three Sefton MP’s, Peter Dowd, Bill Esterson and Damien Moore requesting them to lobby the Department for Education seeking for the inclusion of “Life Skills” to be included nationally as part of the Secondary School Curriculum. `