Plymouth’s education chief is calling on the Government to "face down the bigots" with more support for inclusive education about LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual) relationships.
The city council’s Cabinet member for education Jon Taylor has written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson calling for clearer support and guidance for schools.
He said: "Children are entitled to high quality, age-appropriate sex education inclusive of LGBT+ relationships.
"I’m seeking assurance from the Education Secretary that he will give his full backing to schools teaching an inclusive curriculum. We must face down the bigots."
In the letter, Cllr Taylor raises concerns about Mr Williamson’s approach to inclusive education because of his opposition to same-sex marriage.
According to Pink News, which reports on LGBT issues, the education secretary has a mixed record on the subject.
Mr Williamson twice voted in Parliament against same-sex marriage and once against same-sex marriage for members of the armed forces outside the UK.
But earlier this year he called on the Government to change the law restricting same-sex marriage on military bases and intervened to ensure British troops would not be affected by anti-gay laws in Brunei.
Cllr Taylor told Mr Williamson his record of opposition to same-sex marriage “may hinder an open dialogue” and “the progress of inclusive education in our schools.”
His letter asks the Government to:
- issue guidance to schools on an inclusive curriculum and equality;
- support and share good practice on inclusive equality education;
- support education workers to be free from discrimination and harassment.
Cllr Taylor’s letter followed a city council decision to highlight the issues which came to national attention with protests by parents against LGBT teaching at schools in Birmingham earlier this year.
He wrote: “Plymouth City Council believes that children in our city should have access to education about, and awareness of, the diverse world we and they inhabit.
“This will often include the mix of family types common in modern Britain, which is quite separate from any form of sex or relationship education.
“It is also our position that all children are entitled to high quality, age-appropriate and rights-based Relationships and Sex Education that is inclusive of LBGT+ relationships.
“With this in mind I feel it is important for schools to have a clear dialogue with parents about the necessity of inclusive education, and that government should not only support head teachers around this issue, but provide them with a clear mandate, including the tools needed to prepare children for the world around them and which don’t give in to bigotry of any kind.”
The Department for Education pointed out new rules are coming in for compulsory relationships and sex education in schools from 2020.
Schools have to consult parents about the content and parents have the right to remove their children from sex education but not from relationships classes.
The department said: “The subjects are designed to help children from all backgrounds build positive and safe relationships, and to thrive in modern Britain.”
On LGBT education, it said: “Pupils should be taught about the society in which they are growing up.
“These subjects are designed to foster respect for others and for difference, and educate pupils about healthy relationships.
“RSE (relationships and sex education) should meet the needs of all pupils, whatever their developing sexuality or identity – this should include age-appropriate teaching about different types of relationships in the context of the law.
“Pupils should receive teaching on LGBT relationships during their school years - we expect secondary schools to include LGBT content.
“Primary schools are enabled and encouraged to cover LGBT content if they consider it age appropriate to do so, but there is no specific requirement for this.
“This would be delivered, for example, through teaching about different types of family, including those with same sex parents.”
A department spokesperson said Mr Williamson’s voting record was not a matter it could comment on.
