Reports and guidance

SLN is founded on strong principles from two reports for government: Our Shared Future and the Diversity and Citizenship Review.

The Commission on Integration and Cohesion published its final report, Our Shared Future, in June 2007. The report provides a detailed definition of cohesion and reinforces the role of schools in encouraging their pupils to actively engage with others to understand what they have in common.

SLN is also working in response to the June 2009 White Paper on education: Your child, your schools, our future: building a 21st century schools system.

The White Paper asserts the need to prepare children for the challenges of the 21st century including the need to develop respect and understanding for those from different backgrounds. This paper also allies to SLN’s work with regard to the ‘Pupil guarantee’ and in particular, the guarantee that young people and their families are welcomed, valued and supported.

“We are currently legislating to require schools to collaborate and we will go further to make it clear that schools have responsibilities for children across the area as well as those on their own roll.”

(Chapter 3 – Every school working in partnerships: because no school can do it alone)

The Your child, your schools, our future: building a 21st century schools system White Paper published in 2009.

Our Shared Future

The Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum Review published in February 2007 and led by Sir Keith Ajegbo found that there was uneven education for diversity across England and proposed that:

“Schools should build active links between and across communities, with education for diversity as a focus.

This might range from electronic links (local, national and global), to relationships through other schools (for example as part of a federation), links with businesses, community groups and parents.
These links should be encouraged, particularly between predominantly monocultural and multicultural schools.
Such links need to be developed in such a way as to ensure they are sustainable.
Such work between schools must have significant curriculum objectives and be incorporated into courses that pupils are studying. This will help avoid stereotyping and tokenism.”

(Diversity and Citizenship, DfES 2007, p12)

Diversity and Citizenship Review

National Framework for Citizenship also includes a strand entitled ‘Identity and Diversity: Living Together in the UK’.

Ofsted guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion

Ofsted will look for:

understanding of a school’s local community
action taken to address need
evidence of the impact of the action taken to promote community cohesion.

Self evaluation form (SEF).

Ofsted guidance on completion of the Self evaluation form (SEF).

SLN articles and reports