| answer text |
<p>All schools are required to actively promote our shared values of democracy, the
rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different
faiths and beliefs. Schools are also required to promote equality and respect for
others, with particular regard to the protected characteristics. Promotion of these
values is part of Ofsted’s inspection framework and the department has published guidance
to schools on promoting these important values as part of pupils’ spiritual, moral,
social and cultural development.</p><p>In 2016, the department also launched the Educate
Against Hate website which provides resources for teachers and school leaders to support
their promotion of these values. This includes the department’s Respectful Schools
Communities toolkit; a self-review and signposting tool to support schools to develop
a whole-school approach which promotes respect and discipline.</p><p>Additionally,
subject to the passage of regulations through parliament, schools will be required
to teach relationships education to all primary pupils and relationships and sex education
to all secondary pupils from September 2020. The focus is on building positive, respectful
relationships, including online, and understanding the impact of harmful stereotypes
and bullying.</p><p>The department also supports a number of specific initiatives
in schools to combat bullying. The department is providing over £2.8 million of funding,
between September 2016 and March 2020, to 4 anti-bullying organisations to support
schools to tackle bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular
groups, such as those who are victims of hate-related bullying, along with a project
to report bullying online. These projects contribute towards the government’s Hate
Crime Action plan.</p><p>Finally, as part of our commitments in the government’s Integrated
Communities Action Plan, the department has funded an expanded national school linking
programme. This seeks to encourage meaningful social mixing between different types
of schools and foster understanding of those with different backgrounds, faiths and
beliefs. Last year, the Linking Network worked with over 400 schools leading to 17,635
pupils taking part in activities supporting integration.</p>
|
|
