Inclusive education resources promoted at Scottish Learning Festival 2021: FOI release

Information requested

The following information based on reports of LGBT inclusive education resources being promoted at the Scottish Learning Festival:

1. "How many sessions at the festival included information on Christian inclusive education across the curriculum and what was the content of these sessions?

2. Please provide a link to your dedicated website which gives resources to ensure Christian pupils receive an education which is inclusive of their identity.

3. Many pupils in Scottish schools will identify as a follower of a faith which does not endorse homosexual activity. What provision has been made to ensure these pupils are able to express their faith view when LGBT issues are being discussed in Scottish schools or are they expected to stay silent and have their identity hidden from view?"

Response

There were no sessions at the Scottish Learning Festival 2021 which had a specific focus on Christian inclusive education.

Education Scotland’s resources are hosted on the National Improvement Hub. This hub has a search facility enabling users to find resources which can be used in their learning contexts to support learning and teaching across a range of topics.

Decisions around learning and teaching in Scottish state-funded schools are the responsibility of schools in line with local authority policies.

As with discussions around any potentially controversial area, the expectation is that teachers would exercise their professional judgement when inviting learners to express their views. Learners should be able to express their views in a respectful and sensitive manner, supporting them to understand views which may be different to their own.

Curriculum for Excellence includes a wide range of Experiences and Outcomes across a broad range of curricular areas, therefore the Scottish curriculum already makes provision for all pupils, including Christian pupils, to receive an education which is inclusive of their identity.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.