PSHE Pupil Questionnaire Feedback - July 2023

A selection of 30 pupils, both boys and girls, across all four year groups were asked to complete this questionnaire to give their opinion of PSHE in the curriculum. For those who found the reading challenging, the questions were read to them. Below are the results of the tick-box questions. Percentages were rounded up to the whole percent.

Questionnaire Results

Views on PSHE education	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree
I enjoy PSHE education.	31%	66%	3%
What we do in PSHE education is about right for people of my age.	34%	66%
I think PSHE education is an important part of the school curriculum.	57%	43%
Enough time is given to PSHE education.	34%	50%	16%
We are encouraged to share our views and opinions in PSHE education.	60%	40%
I feel comfortable giving my views and opinions.	31%	63%	6%
Other pupils listen to my views and opinions.	37%	60%	3%
Teachers respect my views and opinions	94%	6%
In PSHE education there is an emphasis on learning and practising personal skills for life.	34%	63%	3%
There are opportunities in school to use many of the things we learn in PSHE education.	44%	53%	3%

These results give a clear indication that the children are enjoying their PSHE curriculum and that they feel that their opinions are valued and respected by others and their class teacher, which strongly supports our school value of respect and our motto of being kind.

It is interesting that 16% of children feel we do not have enough time dedicated to PSHE. This could be because some of the learning we do around PSHE is taught in other subjects such as science and computing – we perhaps need to make this explicit links for the children. I will carry out another questionnaire that focusses on what the children think we should learn about and also how much they would like to do, to see how that could be incorporated into the curriculum.

The children on the whole agree and understand that PSHE is taught to help them develop skills for later life and that they have chances to practise the skills taught in everyday life in school. This was reflected in the second set of questions in this questionnaire that allowed children to reflect more deeply and personally on their opinions.

Below is a selection of answers to the questions asked.

What is the best thing about PSHE education in our school?

The fact you can use the skills you learn and can make your own decisions.
What we learn is actually useful.
The best thing is that we learn about boundaries.
It’s really great as you get to share your opinion and people listen to your point of view.
The best thing is that it helps us to be better people.
We get to learn about our bodies, consent, and that our body is our own.
It’s a time to safely share our emotions.
Learning about things we need to do as adults, such as handling money.
The best thing is that we get to learn lots of things like body changes, bullying, anti-social behaviour and feelings.
“The fact that everyone is allowed an opinion and is given respect even if the other children and adults think it is a silly idea or do not agree. We’re all entitled to our own opinions and others respect that. Even if the subject is sensitive or uncomfortable, we’re comfortable as a community sharing what we think” (year 6 child response)

How could PSHE education in our school be improved?

I think we need more so we can make informed decisions as we get older.
We should do lots more of it/ more time dedicated to it.
For sex education, boys and girls should be in separate rooms (all the guidance I sought says this should no longer be done, that both should be in the same room).
More work on friendships
It doesn’t need to be improved.
Maybe PSHE days like we do for RE.
Do even more about feelings and how we can control them.

Are there any areas of PSHE that you think we need to do more on?

More about our bodies, as although people don’t like it as it can be embarrassing, we need to learn it.
Maybe more on bullying.
More on racism even though we do a lot on Show Racism The Red Card.
The Monarchy and Government.
More on feelings and puberty.
Learn more about handling money as we need it for trips and when we are adults.

Do you think our RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) curriculum is appropriate for your year group? Please explain why you think that.

Definitely. I don’t think what we have learnt so far is inappropriate as what we have learnt is necessary for adulthood.
Yes, as it helps us learn safely and helps us learn how to protect our bodies.
Yes, because it is getting us prepared for adult life.
Yes, it is appropriate, as children need to learn about their bodies at a young age and have the correct information not internet information.
It is appropriate, as usually, when we hear these things, it is children being inappropriate, but this isn’t, it is factual and gives us the chance to ask questions.
It is appropriate for our individual year as this is the time when things will start to happen (year 5 child)
Yes, as it tells us about body changes and periods and some people may not have people at home to talk to about it, and it might scare them when it happens if they don’t know.
The school does very well to inform us about our bodies and prepare us for the changes that will happen.

These comments were completely individual to the children completing the questionnaire but also show what a positive impact the children feel PSHE is having on them and how they feel about the topic. It is good to see that, although when teaching RSE, some children find it embarrassing and a little uncomfortable, they see the reason and the benefits of completing the lessons. It is also very clear to see that children feel they are able to have opinions and feel comfortable sharing them as their community is a safe one.

Moving forward