cohesionbradford

The Community Cohesion Education Standards for School
Did you know that as from September 2007 all schools have a duty to promote community cohesion and that a school’s effectiveness in promoting community cohesion, will be a focus of Ofsted inspections from September 2008?

What do we mean by community cohesion?
‘By community cohesion, we mean working towards a society in which there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all communities; a society in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued; a society in which similar life opportunities are available to all; and a society in which strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in the workplace, in schools and in the wider community’ (Guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion p3 DCSF).

The Community Cohesion Standards are framed by four strategic aims and related objectives. The Standards aim to:

n 5.I. Close the attainment and achievement gap

n 5.2. Develop common values of citizenship based on dialogue, mutual respect and acceptance of diversity

n 5.3. Contribute to building good community relations and challenge all types of discrimination and in equality

n 5.4 Remove the barriers to access, participation, progression, attainment and achievement

What are schools expected to do?
‘…….. we passionately believe that it is the duty of all schools to address issues of how we live together and to deal with issues of difference, however controversial and difficult they might sometime seem’(Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum Review 2007)Schools’ contributions to community cohesion can be grouped under the following:

n Teaching, learning and curriculum – helping children and young people 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 – for example through the new ‘Identity and diversity, living together in the UK’ strand within citizenship education.

n 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.

n 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 service with opportunities for pupils, families and the wider community to take part in activities and receive (Guidance on the Duty to Promote Community Cohesion 2007 DCSF)In a nutshell all schools wherever they are located, need to take community cohesion seriously and ensure that:

n All children and young people have equal access to education

n There is a zero tolerance of racism and all other forms of prejudice, discrimination and inequality

n Learning is active and participative and teaching innovative

n There is a creative approach to the curriculum

n Diversity is reflected in the school environment and resources used in teaching

n Children and young people are challenged in their thinking and behaviour

n Children and young people are involved in decision making about their own education

n Learning is personalised

n The wider community is involved in the education of children and young people;

n The school is a resource for the whole community and the community a resource for the school

n Dialogue exists between diverse people and that this does not constitute an exchange of ignorance

Promoting community cohesion is part of the PVE agenda and this website and all the Diversity and Cohesion resources, supports the new DCSF initiatives as outlined in the DCSF booklet 'Learning Together to be Safe.' To learn more about Learning Together to be Safe, visit www.dcsf.gv.uk/publications