The Universal Requirement: What You Must Publish

The Department for Education (DfE) guidance is clear: every FE college, academy, and maintained school is required to publish a statement of its ethos and values.

This statement should be a unique reflection of your school’s character, principles, and the culture you aim to foster. It should clearly articulate what your institution believes in and what you stand for.

There is flexibility in how you present this information. Your ethos and values statement could be:

• A concise paragraph summarising your school's core principles.

• A bulleted list of your key values.

• A more detailed page that explores your school's mission and vision.

The format is less important than the content itself. The key is that the statement is present, clear, and truly represents your individual school.

Why It Matters (And How to Make it Stand Out)

While this is a compliance requirement, it's also a powerful opportunity. For many prospective parents and staff, your ethos and values statement is their first real insight into your school's community. It tells them not just what you teach, but why you teach it the way you do.

To ensure this vital information doesn't get lost, many schools create a dedicated "Our Ethos and Values" page and make it a prominent part of their website's main navigation. This not only guarantees compliance but also demonstrates the importance you place on your school's identity.

Unsure if Your Website is Compliant?

Keeping track of every DfE requirement can be daunting. It’s easy to overlook a small but critical detail like an ethos statement, or to have outdated policies lurking on your site.

Acuity AI for Education offers a simple solution. Our powerful, AI-driven tool audits your entire school website against the latest statutory guidance. In just minutes, it checks for missing information, outdated policies, and other compliance risks, delivering a clear and actionable report.

Find out if your website is fully compliant today at https://acuity.education with a completely free, no-obligation trial.