Guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion
Draft guidance for schools on the duty to promote community cohesion was
published for consultation from 8 May 2007 until 3 July 2007.
Responses to the consultation were received from governors, headteachers, local authority representatives, education associations and other individuals and organisations and are summarised in the consultation report.
Final guidance for schools has now been published along with a selection of case studies. The guidance:
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Explains what is meant by community cohesion.
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Describes how a school can contribute to community cohesion, outlining the work that many schools already do to promote community cohesion as a basis for all schools to consider what they already do and what more might be needed.
How can schools contribute towards community cohesion?
The guidance explains how every school will make an important but different contribution to community cohesion, depending on a range of factors including the nature of the school's population and the location of the school.
Broadly, a school's contribution to community cohesion can be grouped under the three following headings:
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Teaching, learning and curriculum
Helping pupils to learn to understand others, to value diversity whilst also promoting shared values, to promote awareness of human rights and to apply and defend them, and to develop the skills of participation and responsible action. - Equity and excellence
To ensure equal opportunities for all to succeed at the highest level possible, striving to remove barriers to access and participation in learning and wider activities and working to eliminate variations in outcomes for different groups. - Engagement and
extended services
To provide reasonable means for children, young people, their friends and families to interact with people from different backgrounds and build positive relations: including links with different schools and communities and the provision of extended services with opportunities for pupils, families and the wider community to take part in activities and receive services which build positive interaction and achievement for all groups.
Further support for schools
Along with the guidance, an online resource pack has been developed to provide additional support to schools in meeting their duty to promote community cohesion. The resource pack provides further information for school leaders and governors on the duty and how they can meet it.
- Community Cohesion resource pack
- Guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion (Word)
- Guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion (PDF)
- Report on responses to the consultation on guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion
- Community cohesion case studies
Last updated: 01 October 2008
