Community Cohesion for Schools
Duty to promote community cohesion: draft guidance for schools
Purpose of this document
This document seeks the views of schools on the content of guidance on the implementation of the new duty to promote community cohesion under the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The final version of the guidance will be published in July 2007 and will be informed by the responses received to this consultation and examples of existing good practice in promoting community cohesion.
1. Introduction
The curriculum for all maintained schools should promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepare pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life[1].
Schools have a duty to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different groups[2].
All schools will recognise these two important statements which are part of existing law. From September 2007 schools will also be under a new duty to promote community cohesion. Most schools already consider this part of their role, and already work in ways which promote community cohesion. This document looks at ways in which schools can build on what is happening already in the light of the new duty.
As migration and economic change alter the shape of our increasingly diverse local communities, it is more important than ever that all schools play a full part in promoting community cohesion. Every school should be a thriving, cohesive community, but it also has a vital part to play in building a more cohesive society.
Every school - whatever its intake and wherever it is located - is responsible for educating children and young people who will live and work in a country which is diverse in terms of culture, faith, ethnicity and social backgrounds. The staff and pupil populations of some schools reflect this diversity, allowing pupils to
Purpose of this document
This document seeks the views of schools on the content of guidance on the implementation of the new duty to promote community cohesion under the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The final version of the guidance will be published in July 2007 and will be informed by the responses received to this consultation and examples of existing good practice in promoting community cohesion.
1. Introduction
The curriculum for all maintained schools should promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and prepare pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life[1].
Schools have a duty to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different groups[2].
All schools will recognise these two important statements which are part of existing law. From September 2007 schools will also be under a new duty to promote community cohesion. Most schools already consider this part of their role, and already work in ways which promote community cohesion. This document looks at ways in which schools can build on what is happening already in the light of the new duty.
As migration and economic change alter the shape of our increasingly diverse local communities, it is more important than ever that all schools play a full part in promoting community cohesion. Every school should be a thriving, cohesive community, but it also has a vital part to play in building a more cohesive society.
Every school - whatever its intake and wherever it is located - is responsible for educating children and young people who will live and work in a country which is diverse in terms of culture, faith, ethnicity and social backgrounds. The staff and pupil populations of some schools reflect this diversity, allowing pupils to