The Independent School Standards (Wales) Regulations 2024

PART 2 Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

4.  The standard about the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils at the independent school is met if the proprietor—

(a) actively promotes the fundamental values of democracy and support for participation in the democratic process, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs,

(b) actively promotes knowledge and understanding of Part 1 of the Convention,

(c) ensures that principles are actively promoted which—

(i) enable pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence,

(ii) enable pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law,

(iii) encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those within the independent school’s community, those living and working in the locality in which the independent school is situated and to society more widely,

(iv) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act,

(v) provide pupils with a broad general knowledge of public institutions and services in Wales and the United Kingdom more widely,

(vi) assist pupils to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures in a way that promotes further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions,

(vii) encourage pupils to respect the fundamental values of democracy and support for participation in the democratic process, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs,

(d) precludes the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the independent school, and

(e) takes such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils—

(i) while they are in attendance at the independent school,

(ii) while they are taking part in extra-curricular activities which are provided or organised by or on behalf of the independent school, or

(iii) in any promotion at the independent school including through the distribution of promotional material, of extra-curricular activities taking place at the independent school or elsewhere,

they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.