Health Protection and Prevention, and Understanding the Healthcare System (Secondary)
Curriculum content:
1. Personal hygiene, germs and how they are spread, including bacteria and viruses,
treatment and prevention of infection, and about antibiotics.
2. Dental health and the benefits of good oral hygiene, including brushing teeth twice a
day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth, reducing consumption of
sugar-containing food and drinks, and regular check-ups at the dentist.
3. How and when to self-care for minor ailments, and the role of pharmacists as
knowledgeable healthcare professionals.
4. The importance of taking responsibility for their own health, and the benefits of regular
self-examination and screening.
5. The facts and scientific evidence relating to vaccination, immunisation and antimicrobial
resistance. The introduction of topics relating to vaccination and immunisation should
be aligned with when vaccinations are offered to pupils.
6. The importance of sufficient good-quality sleep for good health, the importance of
screen-free time before bed and removing phones from the bedroom, and how a lack of
sleep can affect weight, mood and ability to learn.
7. The importance of healthy behaviours before and during pregnancy, including the
importance of pre-conception health, including taking folic acid. The importance of
pelvic floor health. Information on miscarriage and pregnancy loss, and how to access
care and support.
8. How to navigate their local healthcare system: what a GP is; when to use A&E / minor
injuries; accessing sexual health and family planning clinics; the role of local
pharmacies; and how to seek help via local third sector partners which may have
specialist services.
9. The concept of Gillick competence. That the legal age of medical consent is 16. That
before this, a child’s parents will have responsibility for consenting to medical treatment
on their behalf unless they are Gillick competent to take this decision for themselves.
Pupils should understand the circumstances in which someone over 16 may not be
deemed to have capacity to make decisions about medical treatment.
- Dental health PSHE Association KS3 lesson on the impact of diet and substance use on dental health, different forms of dentistry (health and cosmetic) and how to access dental care and the importance of regular check-ups (membership required)
- BRIGHT dental health lesson pack A free KS3 lesson to help pupils approach tooth brushing in a more positive way, consider their own motivations for tooth brushing, reflect on their barriers to tooth brushing and complete an action plan to support sustainable good oral health.
- Prevent Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Two lessons for KS4 focussing on breast awareness and breast cancer, including signs, symptoms and self-examination and one lesson for KS5 building on KS4 content and exploring how to make informed health choices
- The Truth Undressed-Vulva and vaginal health The PSHE Association have collaborated with intimate health brand expert Canesten® to develop a set of four lesson plans for KS3-5 promoting understanding of vulval and vaginal health (membership required).
- University of Bristol: EDUCATE HPV vaccine This free lesson pack will help you teach students about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and provide reassurance about receiving the vaccine — usually offered to teenagers at school as part of the national vaccination programme.
- Highgate School & NHS Barts: Testicular Health This lesson pack from Highgate School and NHS Barts Health Urology Network will support you to teach students about the main signs and symptoms of both testicular torsion and testicular cancer, and provides strategies to help them recognise when and how to seek support
- Orchid: What is testicular cancer? Free lesson from Orchid focused on increasing young people’s understanding of testicular cancer and their confidence in seeking support. It outlines risk factors, signs and symptoms and the importance of self-examination.
