Schools: British Values

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Thursday 12th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

It does not seem to us to be satisfactory to ask a school merely to teach about British values if it does not also teach the importance and primacy of them and promote them. It is not satisfactory to teach about British values and then have a separate lesson that teaches that other values are more important. This will be inspected by Ofsted, within some clear frameworks, by Ofsted inspectors trained to do so. The governors’ handbook will reflect this, as will our guidance on the equality Act.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, in considering such values, will the Minister take into account a list of British values drawn up by faith leaders at the turn of the millennium, to which all faiths agreed to subscribe?

[Lord Nash]

The noble Lord makes a very good point, and I will take that away.