Hosting external speakers and visitors in Schools

Guidance when inviting speakers in schools

Schools should follow the guidance below when inviting speakers:

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) - Statutory guidance that schools must follow to safeguard and promote children's welfare.

Prevent duty guidance - GOV.UK - Statutory guidance on the Prevent duty states that schools should have clear protocols to ensure that any visiting speakers are suitable and appropriately supervised.

The Department for Education - Gov.UK - advises independent schools to vet visiting speakers if they might hold views inconsistent with the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) standards. If such speakers are used, schools should agree on the content of their presentation beforehand.

Ofsted guidance for inspectors on safeguarding - GOV.UK -  Instructs Ofsted to check the school's policy and procedures for ensuring that visitors, such as external speakers at school assemblies, are suitable and properly monitored.

Political Impartiality in Schools - GOV.UK - all schools must forbid political indoctrination and ensure a balanced treatment of political issues, extending to extra-curricular activities organized by the school. Political Impartiality in Schools must be maintained.

Teaching misconduct guidance - GOV.UK - warns that staff may face prohibition if they expose pupils to actions undermining fundamental British values, including promoting political or religious extremism by inviting such individuals to speak in schools.

Last updated 03 October 2024