Parents are still being prevented from viewing sex ed materials being shown to their children, despite the Government’s promise to make the curriculum more transparent.
In June, the former Schools Minister Robin Walker told the House of Commons that the Department for Education (DfE) expected “schools to share RSHE content and materials with parents openly and transparently, where requested” and “should not enter into any contracts with third parties that seek to restrict them from sharing RSHE resources with parents”. The remarks were repeated in December by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.
Last July, Schools Minister Baroness Barran pledged that the DfE would “set out a clear expectation that schools respond positively to any reasonable requests from parents to view curriculum materials”.
The Christian Institute’s Head of Education, John Denning, said: “Given the very concerning RSE materials that do exist, it seems inexplicable that the Department for Education has still not sent a letter to schools requiring this, six months after the minister committed to doing so.”
There are good things that can be taught under the new arrangements but unfortunately the changes also provide an opportunity for campaign groups opposed to Christian teaching to push forward their controversial agendas in schools.
In September 2020, the Government released further guidance for schools
Bayswater, a support group representing over 400 parents with gender-confused children, alleged that parents are still being prevented from viewing sex education materials.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Schools tell us the lessons are impartial, but don’t show us the materials, leaving us concerned that gender identity is being taught as fact rather than a belief that some but not all people hold.”
According to The Daily Telegraph, sex education materials provider Jigsaw Education warned a school it could take legal action if the school disclosed any of its materials.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Schools are legally required to engage with parents on the teaching of relationships, sex and health education.”
They stated that: “Parents should be aware of what their children are being taught, especially relating to the teaching of sensitive topics.
“We will write to all schools this term to emphasise this and to make it clear that if a parent requests to see teaching materials, copyright law does not prevent a school from sharing them with parents in person on the school premises.”
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was quizzed on the issue in December at her first appearance before the Education Committee.
Responding to concerns raised by Nick Fletcher MP, Keegan encouraged parents to approach schools to challenge the promotion of ‘partisan theories’ and addressed recent incidents of headteachers withholding controversial sex ed materials from parents.
She confirmed schools “can show resources to parents in person without infringing an external providers’ copyright in the resource” and warned them to “avoid entering into private contracts with commercial providers that seek to restrict their right to show [the materials]”.
Last year, Miriam Cates MP warned that “children across the country are being exposed to a plethora of deeply inappropriate, wildly inaccurate, sexually explicit and damaging materials in the name of sex education”.
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