Seven-year-olds taught about being ‘pangender at a Norfolk primary school

Children as young as seven are being taught contested gender identity beliefs at a Church of England school in Norfolk, parents have said.

The parents accused Swanton Morley VC Primary School of teaching about being “pangender” and being “born with a vagina” but “feeling like a boy”, and said their concerns about the controversial material, provided by Educator Solutions, were dismissed by senior staff.

Following the Government’s pledge to review the Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum, it has now announced the formation of an advisory expert panel to assist in the task of reassuring parents that “there is no room for disturbing or inappropriate content to be taught in schools”.

‘Unscientific and dangerous’

One parent called the Swanton Morley material “age inappropriate, partisan, unscientific and dangerous” and said it was introduced without any parental consultation.

The mother of two said: “Telling seven-year-old girls they can be born like a girl, but feel like a boy inside, and that there are more than two genders is simply wrong.

“These aspects of the teaching materials are based on highly contentious and contested views that put great emphasis on emotion and belief rather than biological reality.”

A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council said: “Primary schools are enabled and encouraged to cover LGBT content within RHSE lessons if they consider it age appropriate to do so.”

‘Yet another example’

The Christian Institute’s Head of Education, John Denning, said: “This is yet another example of clearly inappropriate teaching which may well be in breach of the law requiring political impartiality in schools.

“It also seems that the school has failed in its legal duty to meaningfully consult parents before it wrote its RSHE policy, as well as to provide education which is appropriate to pupils’ age and religious background.

“This is not just one isolated school, but involves a scheme put together by Norfolk County Council. It is crucial that the government’s review of RSHE takes these problems seriously and leads to real change on the ground. The DfE must ensure schools are accountable to the law and to government guidance.”

Urgent review

In March, Rishi Sunak committed to bring forward a review of statutory guidance on Relationships and Sex Education in England in response to a question from Miriam Cates MP.

She told the Prime Minister that children are being “subjected to lessons that are age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate, often using resources from unregulated organisations that are actively campaigning to undermine parents. This is not a victory for equality, it is a catastrophe for childhood.”

The Department for Education is currently collecting evidence, with a consultation on updated guidance expected later this year.