PSHE
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
PSHE is a non-statutory but widely delivered subject in UK secondary schools that covers personal wellbeing, social skills, health education, and economic/financial literacy. Careers education is often delivered within PSHE, though best practice places it within a dedicated careers curriculum rather than embedded solely in PSHE to ensure the depth and breadth required by the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Key facts
- PSHE is not statutory in England (unlike in Wales and Scotland where it is mandatory)
- The PSHE Association provides curriculum frameworks and resources for schools
- Careers content within PSHE can contribute to Gatsby Benchmark evidence
- Benchmark 4 (Curriculum Links) requires careers to be embedded across all subjects — not just PSHE
- PSHE is often the curriculum vehicle for Benchmark 2 (LMI) and Benchmark 3 (Individual Needs)
Frequently asked questions
What is PSHE and how does it relate to careers education?
PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) is a curriculum subject covering personal wellbeing, relationships, health, and financial literacy. In many schools, careers education is delivered within PSHE. However, the Gatsby Benchmarks require careers provision to extend beyond a single subject — Benchmark 4 specifically requires all teachers to link their subject to careers, and Benchmark 8 requires personalised guidance outside the classroom.
Related terms
Track your Gatsby Benchmarks automatically
Chapter Schools maps every activity to all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks in real time and generates Ofsted-ready evidence — no spreadsheets required.
Book a free demo