Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has provided guidance to schools on the teaching of freedom of religion and belief.

As part of religious education, schools without a religious character are expected to adopt a pluralistic approach when it comes to the teaching of different faiths. Non-faith maintained schools must follow the locally agreed syllabus which, whilst being broadly Christian in nature, must take account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain. Non-faith academies are free to design their own syllabus, but it must meet the requirements of the locally agreed syllabus.

Since 2014, all schools have been required to actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs. The Department has published guidance on promoting fundamental British values as part of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, to which maintained schools have obligations.

Schools are free to cover a full range of issues, ideas and materials, including where they are challenging or contentious. This must be balanced against their obligations to ensure political balance and promote respect and tolerance between people of different faiths and beliefs. The Department has published guidance for schools on political impartiality, to help them to understand their responsibilities in this area, including the importance of introducing pupils to a diverse range of views during their time at school: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools.