Throughout the RAF EFT syllabus use of checklists (FRCs) in the cockpit is not allowed (within reason). Doesn't look good if you don't know your checks by the 5th or 6th sortie.
However throughout my PPL training I was taught with a heavy reliance on checklists. Maybe due to the wide range of people and ages doing doing training civvy flying clubs probably think its safer to make sure everyone uses the lists to reduce the chance of missing something important.