Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that a maintained school teaching young earth creationism or intelligent design as scientifically valid is breaching the requirement in section 78 of the Education Act 2002 for the school to teach a balanced and broadly based curriculum; and if not, what action can be taken in respect of the school.

The Government is clear that all state funded schools must teach science, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum, and that creationism has no place in any science curriculum.

Creationism does not accord with the scientific consensus or the very large body of established scientific evidence; nor does it accurately and consistently employ the scientific method. It should not therefore be presented to children as a scientific theory or body of knowledge.

There is scope for pupils to discuss beliefs about the origins of the Earth and living things, such as creationism, in Religious Education, as long as it is not presented as a valid alternative to established scientific theory and it does not undermine the teaching of the established scientific consensus around evolution.

If parents are concerned that the school is not offering a broad and balanced curriculum, they should follow the school’s complaints procedure.