Parents alerted to ‘radical material’ in schools

Pupils and teachers in UK schools are under pressure to conform to radical educational material on sex and relationships because there is not enough clear guidance from the Government, according to the Christian Institute’s (CI) Autumn newsletter.

While Christians were given some reassurance by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan’s recent letter to English schools, which said that parents have a ‘fundamental right’ to know what their children are taught in health, relationships and sex education, the publication says there are several challenges ahead.

These challenges include the Westminster Government’s recent decision to force Northern Irish schools to promote girls’ ‘legal right to an abortion’. Public consultation is ongoing in Northern Ireland on how schools will teach about abortion, while the Scottish Government and English Department for Education are both set to undergo consultation on sex education in the near future.

Westminster has also delayed releasing new guidance on transgender pupils for English schools, and the CI is calling for it to affirm schools’ safeguarding responsibilities and protect teachers from affirming ‘radical gender ideology’.

The Institute’s Head of Education, John Denning, stressed how important it is that parents challenge schools about the radical material being exposed to their children. He said: ‘One of the problems is that guidance and the law don’t necessarily require schools to go as far as some are going. One of the reasons these schools are able to pursue that radical agenda is the lack of challenge, and it is important that parents engage constructively with schools to provide that.

‘In England, schools are required to consult parents before they write or revise their policy on relationships and sex education and to ensure the education is appropriate to pupils’ ages and religious background.’

Denning also highlighted that the Institute runs an advice service for parents, teachers and governors who are unsure about their rights and how they should respond when it comes to these matters.