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Gay news: 'A 21st century Section 28', said one campaigner
Faith Schools: organised homophobia?
Government U-turn will allow schools to 'condone homophobia'
The government was accused today of performing a U-turn which would allow faith schools to discourage the use of contraception and teach that homosexuality is wrong.
A bill making sex and relationships education (SRE) compulsory in England's schools from 2011 is due in parliament next week. It originally said SRE must be taught in a way that reflects a "reasonable range" of religious, cultural and other perspectives, and promotes equality, encourages acceptance of diversity and emphasises rights and responsibilities.
But equality campaigners said a late amendment by schools secretary Ed Balls allowing education to "reflect a school's religious character" had been made under pressure and should be withdrawn.
In a statement on its website, the Catholic Education Service says the amendment would allow schools to teach the subject in accordance with their ethos and was secured after a period of "extensive lobbying".
But Andrew Copson, the chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said the amendment "effectively provides an opt out for faith schools from teaching full, comprehensive and objective SRE".
And Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, chairman of the Accord Coalition, which campaigns for inclusive education, said: "By taking this position, Ed Balls is implicitly condoning homophobia and undermining attempts to tackle homophobic bullying. After Labour has done so much for equality, this looks like a 21st century Section 28."
The government denied schools were being given an op out. A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families told the Guardian: "All maintained schools will be required to teach full programmes of study in line with the principles outlined in the bill, including promoting equality and encouraging acceptance of diversity.
"Schools with a religious character will be free to express their faith and reflect the ethos of their school, but what they cannot do is suggest that their views are the only ones."
