Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps this Government is taking to promote British values.

Education plays a vital role in promoting integration and ensuring children and young people are prepared for life in modern Britain, including learning about the values that underpin and unite our society. All schools have specific duties to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of their pupils and to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life. Schools are also required to actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The department has issued guidance for maintained schools here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a758c9540f0b6397f35f469/SMSC_Guidance_Maintained_Schools.pdf.

The duty is also reflected in guidance for independent schools (including academies) on compliance with the Independent Schools Standards. The guidance provides that schools should encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes. It can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5cd3fc2fe5274a3fd6ee74b0/Independent_School_Standards-_Guidance_070519.pdf.

Promotion of these values plays an important role in preparing our children and young people for life in a modern and diverse Britain. The department continues to provide free resources for teachers and school leaders to support them with this via our Educate Against Hate website, which can be found here: https://www.educateagainsthate.com/.