Primary school children will be taught to accept gay and transgender people under new government proposals.
The Department for Education (DfE) has told campaigners that new relationships lessons will be inclusive of all ‘sexualities and identities’.
It is understood classes for young pupils will be ‘age appropriate’ and will focus on acceptance and tolerance of people and families who may be different.
This might include families with two mothers or two fathers, or children in their peer group who do not fit stereotypical gender norms.
From September 2019, all primary schools must have lessons on relationships, while all secondary schools must teach both sex and relationships. The classes for primary school children will focus primarily on building respectful friendships and tolerating others.
The classes for primary school children will focus primarily on building respectful friendships and tolerating others
The Government has not yet set an age at which the relationships classes will be taught. Parents will not have the right to withdraw children from these classes. Some schools are already voluntarily using a book called Introducing Teddy, about a teddy whose friend accepts him even when he admits he wants to become a ‘girl teddy’.
Today, Education Secretary Justine Greening will launch a ‘call for evidence’ asking parents and teachers to send in their views on what content should be included in the curriculum.
The Government has previously suggested that any new content would have to comply with the Equality Act, which bans discrimination against gay or transgender people. However, it is thought this is the first time the department has explicitly said lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans issues will be taken into account.
A DfE official wrote last week to veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who has been calling for schools to tackle homophobic bullying.
The letter said: ‘I can assure you the department expects all schools to ensure young people, whatever their developing sexuality or identity, feel relationships and sex education is sensitive to their needs. The purpose of the new provisions are about ensuring that young people learn that there are different types of relationships.’
Classes for primary school children are focused on ‘safe and healthy relationships’ and are also expected to include safety online and cyber-bullying.
Parents want our schools system to stand for education, not indoctrination
In secondary schools, pupils will learn about the dangers of sexting and online grooming as well as traditional sex education. Parents will still be able to withdraw their children from the sex education element, as is now the case.
Miss Greening said: ‘Young people must have an education that teaches them the importance of healthy and stable relationships. This call for evidence is about giving teachers, parents and especially young people a chance to help shape that new approach and I’d urge them to take part.’
But Thomas Pascoe, campaign director of the Coalition for Marriage, said: ‘We should be teaching children broad values of respect and tolerance, not ordering them to accept adult sexual relationships which they are far too young to understand. Parents want our schools system to stand for education, not indoctrination.’