A new report from the Policy
Exchange think tank has criticised Ofsted for downgrading primary
faith schools that do not acknowledge the existence of LGBT people
and urged the inspectorate to overlook the schools doing this. In
response the Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education has issued a
public rebuke of the recommendation.
Chair of the
Accord Coalition, the Reverend Stephen Terry, said ‘Schools are
still settings where a lot of homophobic and transphobic bullying
takes place, and the problem tends to be
worse within the faith sector. It is vital that
schools promote acceptance of LGBT people, both to
combat bullying in schools and to help ensure LGBT
people live free from discrimination, stigma
or prejudice.’
‘It is absolutely right for Ofsted to expect
that schools uphold their legal duties to promote
acceptance towards LGBT people. It is deeply irresponsible
to suggest that primary faith schools should be allowed to
completely ignore them. Whatever role Ofsted occupies, it should
not be encouraged to treat certain types of school with undue
deference or to apply double standards in this
way.’
The report, which was published last night, urges Ofsted to
take inspiration from statutory Relationships and Sex Education
guidance and only require secondary schools to cover issues
regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. This is despite
all state funded schools being required to tackle discrimination,
advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between
people of different characteristics listed by the Equality Act.
Under the 2014 Independent School
Standards regulations independent schools are
required to encourage ‘respect for other people, paying
particular regard to the protected characteristics’. The
protected characteristics includes sexual orientation and gender
reassignment.
The Policy Exchange report also highlights that Ofsted has
rated some schools as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ that were not
providing Religious Education (RE) at all Key Stages. The subject
is supposed to be compulsory at state funded schools.
The Reverend Stephen Terry
added ‘RE helps pupils better understand those from different
backgrounds, and to develop and clarify their own
life-stance. An inclusive approach in this subject is an
important tool to encourage citizenship. It
also boosts mutual understanding in our increasingly
religiously diverse society.’
‘For these reasons it is vital
that RE is not overlooked in schools.
Policy Exchange has helpfully drawn attention
to the prevalence of schools that do not provide RE at
all Key Stages. We urge Ofsted and the Government to
take this matter much more seriously.’
