Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's news story entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what specific deficiencies in existing policy led the Government to conclude that a new national community cohesion framework was required.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government does not consider that existing legislation or policies on community cohesion are deficient. The new community cohesion framework is intended to provide a consistent approach with supporting infrastructure that brings together existing good practice across the education sector.
The framework responds to commitments set out in the âProtecting What Mattersâ policy paper and has been accelerated due to the rise in antisemitism and other forms of hatred. It is being developed to support colleges, universities and studentsâ unions in strengthening community cohesion, inclusion and a sense of belonging, while helping education settings to promote respectful engagement across differences and support students from all backgrounds.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's news story entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment her Department has made of whether the proposed framework duplicates existing guidance and policies concerning equality, safeguarding, freedom of speech and student welfare.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Community Cohesion Framework is not intended to create new statutory requirements or duplicate existing duties. Instead, it will help bring together established good practice and provide a coherent, practical approach to supporting community cohesion in higher and further education settings, alongside existing arrangements relating to equality, safeguarding, freedom of speech and student welfare.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the ideological diversity of the expert advisory group.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The group has been established to provide expertise, experience and insight to support development of the Community Cohesion Framework. Members were selected on the basis of their relevant expertise and sectoral experience, rather than their ideological viewpoints. Membership includes representatives from the further and higher education sectors, as well as faith and student representatives.
The framework itself will be co-created with students and informed through extensive engagement with stakeholders. This engagement will include focus groups and other opportunities designed to ensure that a diverse range of students from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are able to contribute to its development. This will help ensure that the framework is practical, inclusive and reflective of the communities it is intended to support.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment has been made of whether the involvement of the National Union of Students provides sufficient representation for students whose institutions are not affiliated to it.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has not relied solely on the National Union of Students (NUS) to represent student views in developing the Community Cohesion Framework. While the NUS is a partner in the project, the framework will be co-designed with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, whose voices will be central to its development, implementation and evaluation. The department is engaging a broad range of stakeholders and will continue to do so as the framework is developed.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what criteria were used to determine the membership of the expert advisory group.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Advisory Group has been established to provide expertise and insight to support the development of the Community Cohesion Framework. Membership includes representatives from the further and higher education sectors, as well as faith and student representatives. Its purpose is to inform the development of the framework through a range of relevant experience and perspectives.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's news story entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what metrics will be used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Community Cohesion Framework is currently being developed. The framework and accompanying toolkit will support providers in establishing approaches to monitor and evaluate what works well. Further details on evaluation arrangements, including how the framework's impact will be assessed, will be set out as the development of the framework progresses.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what assessment has been made of the role of teaching British history, democratic institutions and the rule of law in promoting a sense of belonging.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises that education plays a central role in building confident, cohesive and resilient communities. Through a broad and balanced school curriculum, pupils develop knowledge and understanding of British history, democratic institutions and the rule of law, helping them to understand the values that underpin life in modern Britain and creating a shared sense of belonging.
Schools also play an important role in helping pupils understand global events and their impact on communities, while developing critical thinking, media literacy and resilience to hatred, extremism, misinformation and harmful narratives. Co-created by students, the development of the Community Cohesion Framework will be informed by their understanding of how history, democracy and the rule of law combine to underpin belonging, inclusion and community cohesion.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what definition of belonging will be used when assessing the success of the proposed framework.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Community Cohesion Framework is currently in development. Consideration of the key concepts, including belonging, forms part of that work. Further information will be provided as development of the framework progresses.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's news story entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what the estimated cost to the public purse is of developing, implementing and evaluating the proposed framework.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has not published an estimate of the total cost of developing, implementing and evaluating the Community Cohesion Framework. Decisions on future funding, implementation and evaluation will be considered as the development of the framework progresses and will be subject to the government's usual approval and spending controls.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government press release entitled Education to play a vital role in building belonging in divided communities, published on 9 September 2026, what definition of community cohesion will be used when assessing the success of the proposed framework.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Community Cohesion Framework is being developed with support from experts and stakeholders across the sector. As part of that process, the department is considering how key concepts will be reflected within the framework. Further information will be provided as development of the framework progresses.