This article was written with help from our associate education experts, Bill Bolloten and Sue Rogers.
Your requirements
All schools are expected to provide opportunities for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils.
As part of this, you should promote “fundamental British values”. The DfE defines these values as:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
These are explained in more detail in the DfE’s non-statutory guidance on promoting fundamental British values.
Extra requirements apply to independent schools
As well as the expectations outlined above, independent schools must also:
- Prevent the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school
- Take steps to ensure that, where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils, the pupils are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views
