Syllabus information for school leaders

An overview of the pedagogical changes and whole school considerations to support school leaders’ understanding of what has changed for the PDHPE syllabus.

7–10

• Child Studies 7–10 Syllabus (2025) – information for school leaders
• PDHPE 7–10 Syllabus (2024) – information for school leaders
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education 7–10 Syllabus (2024) – information for school leaders
• Physical Activity and Sports Science 7–10 Syllabus (2025) – information for school leaders

11–12

• Health and Movement Science 11–12 Syllabus (2023) – information for school leaders
• Health and Movement Science Life Skills 11–12 (2023) Syllabus – information for school leaders

Controversial issues in PDHPE 7–12

The Department’s Controversial issues in schools procedures provide direction and guidance on managing controversial issues arising in schools.

Inclusion of real-world controversial issues as contexts for teaching and learning in PDHPE and Life Ready encourages critical thinking, creativity, reflection and problem solving.

All schools in NSW are required to teach courses of study in accordance with the outcomes of syllabuses developed by NSW Education Standards Authority.

Some aspects of PDHPE and Life Ready may be viewed as sensitive or controversial, such as learning about abuse, child protection, drugs, respectful relationships, sexual health, sexuality, and violence.

Principals are responsible for the delivery of curriculum, school programs and activities, inclusive of the study of controversial issues. This includes the approval of content and supervision of activities delivered by external providers.

The NSW Department of Education provides detailed guidance and advice on communicating with parents and carers about controversial issues. This includes a series of sample letters and templates which can be accessed and modified by schools and Principals as required. Further, the PDHPE Secondary Curriculum team has prepared a sample PDHPE information letter to communicate with your school community about your teaching and learning programs.