Introduction
The world health organisation defines health as being a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1948). In terms of education this can broken down even more with the general aim being to develop students aesthetically, creatively, critically, culturally, emotionally, intellectually, morally, physically, politically, socially and spiritually (DES and NCCA, 2003). According to the Education Act (1998) schools should promote the social and personal development of students and provide health education for them. This led to the development of a new subject called social, personal and health education (SPHE) which was introduced in the year 2000. The general aim of SPHE is to holistically develop students through a multi-dimensional view of society and an acknowledgment of the complexity and strength of the relationship between the individual and their local, national and global communities (DES and NCCA, 2003). For this to happen a school climate which encourages open communication, where conflict is handled constructively, and which promotes high standards in all its endeavours is needed, thus, an environment in which the core principles of SPHE thrive is created (SPHE.ie, 2011). Unfortunately SPHE is a subject that poses many challenges also to schools and this essay through research in the area and reference to personal experience as a teacher and student will help to investigate these challenges and provide suggestions for dealing with them when they arise.

Challenges that arise in SPHE and Suggestions for Dealing with them – the Subject
Much research has been done in the area of SPHE with three main reports carried out between 2002 and 2003. This research includes implementation of SPHE at junior cycle, University of Limerick (Geary and Mannix McNamara, 2002), report from