Health education, what does it mean?

From the start of the academic year (2020) a new statutory curriculum in England for both primary and secondary education will be introduced that focuses on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education (DfE, 2019), but what is Health Education? This paper focuses on the key areas of Health Education, physical and mental wellbeing and how pupils should be making good decisions about their own health and wellbeing. It examines and critiques how physical health and mental wellbeing are interlinked and questions ‘what is wellbeing?’ As well as examining the notion of 'what is a good decision'? It will offer suggestions of where Health Education can fit within the already congested primary curriculum and interdisciplinary links that could be made to ensure opportunities to be physically confident are provided for children to help support their health. It will also highlight the importance and need for such a new subject area.