Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what penalties would be incurred by a free school, academy or other educational establishment which was found to be teaching or otherwise supporting creationism.

Mr Edward Timpson

State-funded schools, including free schools and academies, should not teach creationism as an evidence-based scientific theory. Outside of science lessons, it is permissible for schools to cover creationism as part of religious education lessons, providing that this does not undermine the teaching of established scientific theory. Academies and free schools are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum and the model funding agreement now prohibits the teaching of creationism as an evidence-based theory. Independent schools must comply with the independent school standards, and are subject to inspections by Ofsted or an alternative inspectorate.

All state-funded schools are subject to Ofsted inspections and a range of intervention powers are in place if required. In addition, any breach of academy or free school funding agreements in relation to creationism would be swiftly dealt with by the Department for Education and could result in the termination of the funding agreement.