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Publication, Part of

Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2021

National statistics

Publication Date:
6 Sep 2022
Geographic Coverage:
England
Geographical Granularity:
Regions, Country, Government Office Regions
Date Range:
01 Sep 2021 to 28 Feb 2022
National Statistics

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Part 11: Multiple behaviours

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Part 12: School lessons and guidance

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Part 13: Wellbeing

Correction to sources of information on drug use data (part 10)

Following the initial publication it was discovered that around half of pupil responses to the question on 'Sources of helpful information about drug use' had been excluded from the results. This was corrected and the affected tables and commentary have been re-issued. 

In Part 10: Young people and drugs: the context, the affected outputs were tables 10.19, 10.20 and 10.21, and the associated chart and commentary in the section on 'Sources of helpful information about drug use'. Though some of the quoted figures changed by 0-3 percentage points, there was no effect to the order of contribution of the most common sources.

4 November 2022 00:00 AM

Page contents

Part 12: School lessons and guidance

Introduction

Pupils were asked about lessons they received on smoking, alcohol and drugs, and each school who took part in the survey also answered a questionnaire on lesson provision. These subjects are generally covered in Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education (PSHE), which is not currently part of the National Curriculum in England.

Guidance for schools was published by the Department for Education in 2013:

Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education guidance

This defines PSHE as ‘an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education’. As well as drug education, PSHE encompasses sex and relationship education, financial education and understanding of the way diet and exercise contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

 

Pupils’ recall of school lessons about smoking, alcohol and drugs

Pupils who said they received lessons in the last year, by school year

More than half of pupils said they received lessons on each topic during the last year, with a slightly higher proportion for drugs (60%), than smoking (56%) and alcohol (56%).

Lessons peaked in year 9, though the lower rates in year 7 will be partly due to the survey taking place mainly in the Autumn term, so year 7 pupils might only have been at the school for a few weeks.

 

Pupils who think their school has given enough information, by school year

Around half of pupils thought their school gave them enough information about smoking (52%), drinking alcohol (51%) and drug use (48%).

The proportions were lowest in Year 7, but again this will be partly due to the survey taking place mainly in the Autumn term when year 7 pupils might only have been at the school for a few weeks.

Frequency of lessons about tobacco, alcohol and drugs

Frequency of lessons in each school year

Most schools reported pupils had lessons about each topic at least once a year (the combined light and dark blue areas in the chart below); between 78% and 92% of schools, depending on the school year and topic. The likelihood was highest in years 9 and 10 for all topics, and lowest in year 7.

Schools having lessons at least once a term ranged from 11% to 22% depending on the school year and topic.

Lesson contributors and sources of information used to prepare lessons

Who contributes to school lessons

Schools could select more than one option.

Teachers contributed to lessons in 99% of schools, although not necessarily a specialist PSHE teacher. In addition, most schools also drew on other contributors. These included Local Authority drug and alcohol advisors (28%), the police (25%), other school staff (23%), and school nurses (11%).

 

Sources used to prepare school lessons

Teachers drew on a range of sources to prepare lessons, most commonly the PSHE Association (87%), the Department of Education (DfE) Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education curriculum guidance (79%), and the government-funded FRANK website (73%).

Last edited: 4 October 2023 2:20 pm

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Part 11: Multiple behaviours

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Part 13: Wellbeing