WORCESTERSHIRE County Council is supporting a Government initiative that will see PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) education classes taught throughout county schools.

A recent announcement made by the schools minister will see a variety of social and health issues taught in the classroom.

PSHE education includes sex and relationships, drugs, alcohol and tobacco, healthy lifestyle and personal finance education, which will be made compulsory in schools by 2010 to 2011.

Jim Knight, Schools Minister, said: “Parents bring up children, not schools or Governments, but schools can help guide them through the maze of issues and prepare them for difficult transition from childhood through to adulthood.

“We will ensure there is flexibility for schools to tailor lessons to reflect the values and beliefs of the parents and communities they serve.”

Conservatove councillor, Liz Eyre, the county council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “ I am delighted with this initiative. I have always said schools are part of the community and do have a role to ensure young people not only attain qualifications but also gain some of the basic skills and understanding that underpins independent living.

“It is important that our children are guided through what can be a difficult time into adulthood. I see this as an important subject within the curriculum but appreciate there are competing pressures on the timetable.

“Our best schools are already delivering good quality PSHE education. We hope that this announcement will help all schools to secure a place in the curriculum for PSHE and enable them to release training time for PSHE teachers and the healthy schools team.”

Teacher advisers from the Worcestershire Healthy Schools team will be offering advice, guidance and training during the coming months to support all county schools to deliver good quality PSHE.

Schools can also get support for PSHE from the PCT through the school nursing team, the Sexual Health Education Team and the SPACE (Worcestershire's young people's drug and alcohol service) team, all of which work in partnership with the county council.

Anyone interested in getting more information can contact the Healthy Schools team on 01905 728905 or email healthyschools@worcestershire.gov.uk.