First aid teaching requirements for health education in schools

All state-funded schools in England are mandated to include first aid training within their health education curriculum, covering all Key Stages. This important initiative is now a well-established standard in educational settings. It is expected that every eligible school fully adheres to these guidelines, which are instrumental in equipping students with essential first aid skills from an early age.

This approach fosters a generation that is both more health-conscious and prepared to respond to emergencies. In primary schools, pupils learn crucial life-saving skills, including how to make an emergency call and address head injuries. The curriculum for secondary school students expands to encompass advanced first aid techniques, such as performing CPR and understanding the use of defibrillators.

About our first aid lesson plans and teaching resources

St John Ambulance plays a vital role in ensuring that schools can meet these educational standards. Our comprehensive range of first aid courses and resources is specifically tailored to support schools in this essential aspect of health education.

They have been designed to meet the new requirements for each Key Stage. All our new resources are organised in teaching pathways for Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, and Key Stage 4. These outline a recommended order for teaching the different first aid topics to your pupils. Where possible, our lessons link closely with the national curriculum, in particular science. This should help you decide where to include first aid lessons within your curriculum plan.

All our new first aid lesson plans and teaching resources are free and available to download online. We are dedicated to empowering young students with crucial first aid skills, contributing to their safety and well-being, as well as that of their communities.