Nicky Morgan orders faith schools to promote tolerance

Guidance follows snap inspections of 40 schools, including Jewish and Christian faith schools, in the wake of the Trojan Horse row in Birmingham

Andrew Johnson
Monday 03 November 2014 11:18 GMT
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New Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has issued the guidelines on 'British values'
New Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has issued the guidelines on 'British values'

Faith schools will have to “actively promote” British values, including the tolerance of other faiths, and gay and transgender relationships, under new guidance to be issued by the Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan.

New rules stating that governors should “demonstrate fundamental British values” were introduced by Ms Morgan’s predecessor, Michael Gove, in June and give Ofsted inspectors the powers to criticise schools that do not conform to the Equalities Act.

Guidance on the rules will be sent to private schools, academies, and free schools this week. Those that ignore the new instructions could face closure.

It follows snap inspections of 40 schools, including Jewish and Christian faith schools, in the wake of the Trojan Horse row in Birmingham when it was alleged Muslim extremists had infiltrated some academy schools.

Ms Morgan, who is also the equalities minister, told the Sunday Times it was “crucial” that Christian and Jewish schools followed the new rules, along with Muslim schools.

She added: “The requirement to ‘actively promote’ them is designed to reinforce the importance this government attaches to these values.”

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