Primary schools should not be intimidated into creating a pro-LGBT curriculum, The Christian Institute has warned.
It follows the publication of a guide from radical LGBT lobby group Stonewall that Ofsted will be watching schools to make sure lessons are “LGBT inclusive”.
However, Ofsted makes no requirement for LGBT teaching to be included across the curriculum, and the watchdog says it respects schools’ autonomy.
Stonewall’s document lays out subject-specific advice for ‘embedding’ LGBT content across the curriculum.
For Religious Education it suggests teachers of five to seven-year-olds:
– “plan your own school based Pride celebration” as part of work on festivals.
– “When learning about religious naming ceremonies, teach that some trans people choose to have a ‘naming ceremony’ or blessing following their transition.”
The guidance is supported by the publicly-funded Government Equalities Office.
Pro-LGBT books are recommended throughout the publication, with ‘And Tango Makes Three’ encouraged for use in Maths and Science as well as PSHE. Even foreign languages lesson are included.
In Design and Technology lessons, Key Stage 1 children are encouraged to learn about the ‘LGBT flag’, ‘trans flag’ and the ‘bi flag’.
In the introduction, it states that all staff must “understand the importance of doing this work”.
On Ofsted, it says: “Making your curriculum LGBT inclusive plays an important role within a whole-school approach to tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
“Ofsted, SIAMS and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) will look to see that you are doing this.”
But Ofsted’s 2019 education inspection framework states that inspectors will evaluate the extent to which: “Leaders, teachers and learners create an environment where bullying, peer-on-peer abuse or discrimination are not tolerated.
“If they do occur, staff deal with issues quickly and effectively, and do not allow them to spread.”
The Christian Institute’s Education Officer John Denning said: “This document seems designed to intimidate schools. Ofsted isn’t specifically looking for the type of content Stonewall recommends.
“The regulator is clear that bullying should not be tolerated, but they don’t present such a narrow perspective as Stonewall.
“Schools must educate, not indoctrinate. Our new Equipped for Equality booklet helps parents understand what schools can and can’t do in the name of equality and human rights.”
Christian teachers, parents and pupils are increasingly facing difficulties as the education system becomes more secular. Pressure groups with their own agendas are approaching schools offering advice, training and resources. Often this is backed up with vague appeals to the ‘Equality Act’ to make schools feel they have no alternative but to follow the advice given.