How to make your holiday celebrations inclusive

Find out how to include pupils from all religious backgrounds, whichever holidays or festivals you're celebrating. Our tips will help you be respectful of other traditions and avoid conflict with parents.

Last reviewed on 15 September 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 39024
Contents
  1. You're allowed to celebrate religious festivals in school 
  2. Plan well in advance
  3. How to make your activities inclusive
  4. How to manage opposition from parents

You're allowed to celebrate religious festivals in school 

All schools, whether state-funded or independent, are expected to provide for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils.

This includes learning about a range of faiths, traditions and cultures – part of which is learning about religious festivals.

As well as teaching pupils about these, you might also choose to celebrate them in school (for example, Christmas, Diwali, Eid). You won't be discriminating against pupils of other faiths by doing so (as explained in the DfE's equality guidance, paragraph 2.14).

What you celebrate will depend on the type and character of your school

It's up to you – though if you have a designated religious character,

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