Independent schools are not obliged to meet the requirements of section 78 of the Education Act 2002 for a broad and balanced curriculum which

(a) promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and

(b) prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

However, there are requirements in the independent school standards which, as explained in a previous Answer (HL3032), independent schools are obliged to follow. They contain a detailed standard for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and the revised standards which come into force on 5 January 2015 also include an enhanced requirement on preparation for adult life.

The standards do not, as noted in Answer HL3032, prevent the teaching of creationism. Nor do they require the teaching of any specific scientific matters, such as evolution. However, in their arrangements for teaching science, schools are expected to imbue pupils with an appreciation of the need for an evidence-based approach, and an ability to think and learn for themselves.

The decision to fund a provider for early education places is based on the inspection judgment that they receive from Ofsted, or an Ofsted-approved inspectorate. Inspectors will consider whether adults challenge children to think and find out more by encouraging them to speculate and test ideas. Where an Ofsted inspector identifies any concerns, they must notify Ofsted’s compliance, investigation and enforcement team, who will consider notifying the appropriate agencies.

The teaching of creationism and evolution in nurseries was identified by respondents as an issue in the Government’s recent consultation on child minder agencies and the role of local authorities in early education and child care. The Government is considering these responses.

Registered independent schools must meet the independent school standards. These state that the curriculum must give pupils experience in

‘linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical, and aesthetic and creative education’.

Science must therefore be included in the curriculum. Ofsted and the independent school inspectorates inspect independent schools against these standards.