Under the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021, governing bodies and headteachers have an important role and duties in designing and implementing the curriculum and school policies.
Governing bodies and teachers are covered by the statutory RSE Code.
There is also specific guidance for governor’s and headteachers on the curriculum, which can be found here: 2022-chapter-11-curriculum.pdf (gov.wales).
What is the role of Governors in RSE?
Governors play a key role in determining the values and principles within the school. The policies and practices of the school flow from these values.
Specifically, the school must:
- Keep an up to date written statement of their policy on the provision of RSE
- Make copies available for inspection by parents of registered pupils at the school
- Provide a copy of the statement free of charge to any parent who asks for one
Governors also have a key role to play in protecting the partnership between families and schools.
For example, when it comes to policies, governors should be satisfied that parents have been engaged in the decision-making process before they give formal approval to any policies or changes.
You can access school governor’s guidance here: School Governors' guide to the law | GOV.WALES
What are the duties of Headteachers?
Headteachers have an essential role - ensuring the curriculum for their school is in line with Government guidance.
Both the headteacher and the governors must jointly adopt and publish a summary of their curriculum. This must be continually held under review to ensure it complies with curriculum requirements.
If it it is revised, an updated summary must be published and made available to parents.
Specific guidance for governor’s and headteachers on the curriculum can be found here: 2022-chapter-11-curriculum.pdf (gov.wales). The RSE Code is also statutory for governing bodies and teachers.
Maintaining balance and avoiding 'political indoctrination'
It is the responsibility the governing body and head teacher to ensure that teaching remains objective and impartial. The Education Act 1996 (as adopted by the Welsh government) makes clear that teaching must not constitute 'political indoctrination'.
Guidance on what constitutes 'political indoctrination' is limited but it is sensible to take care wherever a contested view is being presented. A legal challenge on grounds of political indoctrination involved a screening of Al Gore's film on climate change without appropriate contextual information or balance.
Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996 provide a clear prohibition against practitioners promoting partisan political views and an equally clear requirement for practitioners to offer a balanced presentation of different views. The Welsh Government's Teaching, Citizenship and Politics Education - Guidance for remaining impartial states:
"In summary, political indoctrination in maintained schools is banned and junior pupils (those under 12) may not become involved in partisan political activities at all. Maintained schools must present political issues (both in school and in extra-curricular activities) in a way which offers a balanced presentation of opposing views." (p.3)
"This applies to activities undertaken directly by practitioners and indirectly through other organisations, where such provision is organised by or for the school." (p.4)
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This page was last updated on 30th October 2023.
