Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Political Impartiality Guidance for Schools

Monday 16 January 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The law requires schools to prohibit the promotion of partisan political views and ensure balanced presentation of political issues.
  • Guidance on political impartiality was published in February 2022 to summarize legal positions for schools.
  • The guidance advises teachers to avoid presenting contested theories as fact when teaching sensitive political issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Miriam Cates
Education Democracy & Elections
Context

The question arises from concerns about the effectiveness of political impartiality guidance in educational settings.

Question

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of political impartiality guidance for schools?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The law is clear that schools must prohibit the promotion of partisan political views and take steps to ensure the balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues when they are taught. Guidance to schools on political impartiality was published in February 2022, summarising the legal position and stating that clear and proportionate steps should be taken to ensure those legal duties are met.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The effectiveness of current guidance is not evaluated.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Miriam Cates
Education Women & Equalities
Context

A YouGov poll shows that UK children are being taught political ideology as fact, including gender ideology and critical race theories.

Question

You do not have to be a historian, Mr Speaker, to understand the dangers of indoctrinating children. The majority of UK children are being taught political ideology as fact in school, including gender ideology that men can have babies and sex positivity instructing teachers to simulate sexual arousal on anatomically correct dolls for children with learning disabilities. What does the Minister intend to do about it?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The guidance on political impartiality makes it very clear that when teaching about sensitive political issues relating to discrimination, teachers should be mindful of avoiding the promotion of partisan views or presenting contested theories as fact. Schools need to ensure that any resources used in the classroom are age-appropriate, suitable and politically impartial, and they should consult parents and share lesson materials when requested.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete actions or intentions about addressing specific issues of indoctrination were not provided.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email