Written question asked by Lord Warner (Labour) on Thursday, 20 November 2014, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 December 2014. It was answered by Lord Nash (Conservative) on Monday, 1 December 2014 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Curriculum

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of teaching material used by schools following the Accelerated Christian Education curriculum; and whether they consider that such material breaches laws prohibiting indoctrination in schools or equality legislation.

Answer: Independent schools must meet the independent school standards. These were revised from 29 September in respect of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils, and schools using the Accelerated Christian Education Curriculum are now inspected against the revised standard. For the purposes of regulating independent schools, compliance with the standards is assessed by inspecting the curriculum as it is actually delivered in the school concerned, rather than by reference to curriculum policy documents. The revised standards still allow schools to teach their particular faith position provided they take account of the need to ensure that pupils are encouraged to respect other people whatever their way of life.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL3033
Session: 2014-15
Related items: Private Education
Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Curriculum Private education Christianity
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk