Daily roundup: Free schools, HIV education and housing benefit

Free schools could lose their funding if they teach children that God made the world, under new rules coming into force next year. The BBC reports that free schools in England will be obliged to teach evolution as a “comprehensive and coherent scientific theory”. The new rules, which involve an amendment to government funding agreements for new schools, will mean teaching creationism could result in the termination of a school’s funding. There are 79 free schools in England with 118 more due to open from 2013.

Children’s charities have called for more support for children with AIDS ahead of World AIDS Day. Teaching union NASUWT has backed a demand made by the National AIDS Trust to incorporate better guidance and training for tackling HIV in the school curriculum. “At present, schools in England are only compelled to teach the basic scientific facts of HIV transmission and there is no compulsory element of HIV education at all in schools in Scotland,” said Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT. “Schools need support in providing high-quality training to ensure they can teach young people about HIV in a confident and sensitive way.” The National Children’s Bureau has also launched leaflets to support 15- to 25-year-olds who live with HIV. These include advice on decision-making, including when to tell others about their HIV status, managing their health needs and knowing their rights.