Roysia Middle School, in Royston, Hertfordshire, is one of a hundred schools selected by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to take part in a research project into how moral and spiritual values should be taught in schools as part of the national curriculum.

In an attempt to open up the debate, the school's headteacher Vince Davies is seeking the opinions of the local community about the values it wants the young to learn, setting up a series of consultation evenings, in which parents and the public can discuss what it actually means to teach children about right and wrong behaviour.

How much should children be taught about sex and drugs?

"If you want to know what the community wants, you have to ask them," said Vince Davies. "Parents have said before that they want concepts such as honesty and respect to be taught to their children, but we've tried to go further and ask what's meant by that and how it can be taught."

"We've been asking parents at what age they would be comfortable for their children to discuss difficult subjects such as drugs or to begin a sex education programme," Vince Davies said. "Parents can be cautious about these subjects, but others want to make sure that their children know more."

"Schools aren't value-free zones," the headteacher said, "so we have to make sure that the values that we teach reflect the values that are held in our local community."

As well as parents, the school is hoping that the meetings will be attended by other representatives from local business, politics, churches and community groups.