The Government are committed to ensuring that pupils receive a balanced and inclusive curriculum and that schools take account of pupils’ religious and cultural beliefs in all aspects of school life. The National Curriculum includes a detailed statutory inclusion statement, which sets out ways in which teachers should help all pupils to take part in the National Curriculum and to achieve the highest possible standards. Religious Education, which is a statutory part of the basic school curriculum, should be taught like any other subject in the curriculum, in an objective and inclusive way.
Schools are subject to equalities legislation and the Department advises that they should be sensitive to pupils’ religious and cultural needs in developing their policies. For example, School Governors must ensure that their uniform and appearance policies are fair and reasonable in accommodating cultural diversity. The Department’s procurement guidance encourages schools to take account of the needs of the local community, so that when writing a specification for a contract for school food, for example, the needs of minority ethnic, cultural and religious diets should be considered.
The School Admissions Code and related legislation, revised in February 2009, sets out a robust framework, clearly showing the statutory requirements that schools and local authorities must comply with to ensure fair access for all.
In order to prepare pupils for active participation in a diverse society the Education and Inspections Act 2006 placed a duty to promote community cohesion on the governing body of maintained schools in England from 1 September 2007, with guidance on the duty issued in July 2008.