British Values Toolkit: Three Ways to Meet Ofsted Standards in 2025
In early September Ofsted published the new toolkits for school inspections from November 2025.
While the framework covers everything that inspectors will be looking for during visits, within the guidance there are some key criteria that relate to debate, oracy, British Values and citizenship.
Here are three ways that you could gather evidence using your class discussions.
📝 Provide a hands-on experience of democracy
The new framework says schools should be:
Having regular time for pupils to participate in class discussions with their peers gives them a real experience of democracy. Pupils will learn to discuss and listen to the range of views held by the peers, some of which might be different to their own. This experience will help them to understand the importance of respecting and tolerating the views of others, even when we disagree with them.
You could go a step further and create one of our Progress Boards to show pupils how their decisions have led to change - democracy in action.
📝 Include current affairs and philosophical questions in your pupil led debates
From November, Ofsted will be looking for evidence that:
Speaking, like other skills, needs regular practise. By holding regular, pupil-led debates and discussions in your classes, pupils will build the skills and confidence needed to articulate their views and to hear those of others, learning how to challenge opinions appropriately will be an important part of their democratic education. By including a mix of questions, including those covering the British Values topics - fairness, rules, rights, tolerance - pupils can practise values while building confidence.
📝 Have regular class discussions across school for all students
We keep coming back to it as a democratic exercise, but the opportunity to speak regularly is also important for pupils’ oracy skills. Ofsted says:
How better to teach these skills than by actually doing them.
By holding regular class discussions where all of your pupils are able to have a say, you are providing a clear space for pupils to develop these skills.
And when you use our Class Meeting Tool, the notes from these sessions are saved and presented in an easily accessible PDF format, ready to share across your setting or as evidence for your work.
💡 Want to see these ideas in action?
Join our free webinar ‘Going Beyond The British Values Display: Five Ideas to Build Democracy in Your School’ next week, Thursday 30th October at 3:45pm.
We’ll give you real-life school examples and strategies you can start using straight away.
