There is more to education than just teaching the facts

However, according to many young people the one thing they don’t learn much about is - life and how to deal with it.

By this they mean how to deal with relationships, sex, drugs alcohol in real life situations.

Sex and relationship education, or what some say is the lack of it, is often blamed for high teenage pregnancy rates.

Dave Clayton has produced a PSHE resource for schools

At present, state schools are not compelled to teach PSHE, although many choose to do so.

From September 2019, schools will be required to teach Relationship and Sex Education, but not PSHE. However, according to the teachers’ union, the National Education Union, education staff believe that PSHE lessons should also be made compulsory, for all school children, and that PSHE lessons are the best place to teach RSE.

A survey by the union revealed that 93 per cent of education staff said RSE should form part of statutory PSHE.

Most respondents, 96 per cent, said high-quality relationships and sex education can play a role in keeping children safe from harm.

Lancashire post graduate student Dave Clayton (inset) is on a mission to change all that.

While studying for a degree in community leadership he looked into pshe in the context of relationship and sexual health education among the young for his dissertation.

Dave, from Preston, was alarmed about what he describes as “Not enough being taught to help young people as they grow up” and decided to do something about it.

Working with staff and students at the University of Central Lancashire and Preston’s College, he has spent five years researching and putting together a new classroom resource which he is hoping educationalists will take on board.

Dave says: “I just felt there wasn’t enough information being given in the right way to young people and I want to work with the professionals. “I feel we need to sit down and try to get the message across.”

His Wot Wud You Do? module uses a series of thought provoking videos of “real life” scenarios such as a pub scene, with young people drinking and getting into potentially precarious situations.

It was recently trialled by staff at Preston’s College with a target audience of 15-25 year olds and was well received.

The resource will be unveiled to an audience of educationalists, teachers and six form bosses as well as local council representatives on April 19 at Tanterton Village Hall in Preston.