Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with schools on ensuring that third-party teaching materials are politically impartial in West Sussex.

The department has not held recent discussions specifically with schools in East Sussex, West Sussex or East Grinstead and Uckfield on this matter. Schools are responsible for selecting teaching resources and are expected to assess carefully whether any materials supplied by third parties are suitable and age-appropriate before they are used.

All schools are subject to longstanding statutory duties on political impartiality. They must prohibit the promotion of partisan political views and, where political issues are brought to pupils’ attention, take reasonably practicable steps to secure a balanced presentation of opposing views.

The department’s guidance on political impartiality helps schools meet these duties when choosing resources and working with external agencies. Schools should review third-party materials in advance and consider whether further material is required to ensure balance. The guidance applies to all schools in England and is accessible at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools.