More than 5,000 parents and grandparents in Wales are suing the Welsh government after it announced that new compulsory sex education from the age of three will start in September. They also say the government misled them about a potential parental opt-out.
The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 prescribes mandatory elements in education which includes relationship and sex education (RSE). The parent-led group is concerned that under the Act, children as young as three will be taught about sensitive and arguably inappropriate topics, such as gender ideology.
Public Child Protection Wales (PCPW), which represents the claimants, has asked the High Court to remove compulsory RSE, saying parents are being disenfranchised by being denied their time-honoured right to remove their child from sex education. One of the parents, Kim Isherwood – who heads up the group – said most parents are oblivious to the change.
Parents also claim the Welsh government has misled them because the original draft RSE only hinted that parental opt-out would be later retracted, rather than stating it would withdraw the opt-out. However, the group said in two online polls initiated by the Senedd, respondents voted overwhelmingly to retain this opt-out element – but the Welsh government disregarded public opinion and removed it.
The campaigners stress they are not against safeguarding or the teaching of age-appropriate biology; and fully support minority rights in terms of welfare and freedom of choice. But they say children’s sex education should be delivered appropriately and by professionals, making their safeguarding of paramount importance.
The campaigners include parents of gay and lesbian children.
Kim, from Port Talbot, said: ‘This new curriculum is not like the stand-alone RSE lessons that pupils and parents are used to. It is embedded into every lesson across the curriculum. The new mandatory element also means that every child, aged 3-16, must take part. It cannot be avoided by anyone, and there are no rights for parents to request information on what will be taught, at what age, or to ask that their child sit out.’
She added that the group is hearing reports from parents where schools are already trailing some of the resources ahead of schedule.
Lucia Thomas, a chartered certified accountant from Porthcawl, commented: ‘School is a place to learn about vital biology, learn how to develop relationships (with both sexes) and to develop respect. But, as parents, we believe what is happening here is the sexualisation of children, not the education of children.
‘The new Bill plays on the emotions of children and can unnecessarily confuse them. This is nothing short of a breach of safeguarding – and it’s being committed by our government’.
Paul Eddy, the PR consultant instructed by the parents, said: ‘The parents are in no way prudish. But their basic concern is that the schools are not making the books and resources available to parents. Stonewall is using a clever legal trick. They say their resources are used by schools under licence, and can only be used and viewed in school by pupils and parents. That means parents can’t take a resource home to read, they literally have to go into school and ask for a room to be set aside so they can sit and read through the latest books.’
He added that individual teachers have said they are not happy to teach trans issues to children as young as three.
The High Court in Cardiff was expected to give its decision on whether or not to allow a judicial review as en went to press.
