Publication, Part of Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England
Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2023
National statistics, Accredited official statistics
Correction to school lessons and guidance (part 12)
Following the initial publication it was discovered that teacher responses from volunteer schools had not been excluded from the analysis (see Appendix A8 for information about volunteer schools). This was corrected and the affected tables and commentary have been re-issued including only teacher responses from sampled schools.
Only Part 12: School lessons and guidance was affected, specifically tables 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.9 and 12.10, and the associated charts and commentary in the sections 'Frequency of lessons about tobacco, alcohol and drugs' and 'Lesson contributors and sources of information used to prepare lessons'. Though some of the quoted figures changed by 0-5 percentage points, there was no effect to the order of the most common contributors and sources of information to lessons.
13 February 2025 17:00 PM
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, and updated in 2021:
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
Around two thirds of pupils said they received lessons on each topic during the last year; 68% said they received lessons on drugs, 67% on smoking, and 65% on alcohol.
Lessons were least likely for year 7 pupils (54% to 55% across the 3 topics), though this 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 two thirds of pupils thought their school gave them enough information about smoking (69%), drinking alcohol (64%) and drug use (63%).
The proportions were lowest in Year 7 (between 52% and 61% across the 3 topics), 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.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 12.1 to 12.3, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
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 82% and 95% of schools, depending on the school year and topic.
Schools having lessons at least once a term ranged from 10% to 18% depending on the school year and topic.
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 12.5 to 12.7, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
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 96% of schools, although not necessarily a specialist PSHE teacher. In addition, most schools also drew on other contributors. These included the police (35%), Local Authority drug and alcohol advisors (29%), other school staff (19%), and school nurses (19%).
Sources used to prepare school lessons
Teachers drew on a range of sources to prepare lessons, most commonly the PSHE Association (81%), the government-funded FRANK website (67%), the Department of Education (DfE) Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education curriculum guidance (56%) and Google and other search engines (50%).
For more data relating to this section:
Tables 12.8 and 12.9, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people, 2023
Last edited: 13 February 2025 4:59 pm