The headteacher of St John’s Church of England primary school in Tunbridge Wells said Crossteach ‘do not deserve the tarnishing of their good name’. They had been working in the school for 16 years, but a small number of parents complained, forcing the head to reluctantly limit their involvement. They will continue to run an after-school club at the school. Schools consistently praise the organisation’s work.

Some parents at St John’s Church of England Primary School in Tunbridge Wells alleged that their children had been exposed to ‘upsetting’ beliefs, including those about marriage and life after death. Some of the claims from disgruntled parents were taken from assemblies which had nothing to do with Crossteach, or from events at local churches.

The local vicar criticised the behaviour of the parents, who he said were ‘determined to drive mainstream Christian teaching out of our Church school and … they … not ourselves … should be charged with extremism and non-inclusiveness’.

One of the parents who complained said: ‘No one minds nativity plays and Bible stories, but considering most of the parents at the school aren’t practising Christians I think the feeling is that it’s all too much.’