A third of teachers say faith a ‘barrier’ to discussing LGBT issues

One in three teachers says faith acts as a 'barrier' to discussing LGBT+ topics in school, a new survey has revealed.

Amongst those who work at faith schools, the number increased to almost half, with 46% feeling that faith impeded their ability to engage in open discussions.

The research, which was carried out for LGBT+ young people's charity Just Like Us, also found primary school teachers were more likely to feel such barriers existed in comparison to secondary school teachers.

Separately, new polling by teachers' union NASWUT found over half of LGBT+ teachers have experienced discrimination and abuse from pupils and parents.

A further one in four reported that such abuse had worsened in the last three years, rather than improving.

Only 33% reported that their school has a zero-tolerance approach to LGBT+ discrimination, with just 14% saying their school provided training to senior management on LGBT+ equality.

NASWUT called upon the government to implement several measures, including mandatory training for schools and college leaders, the required publication of LGBT+ equality action plans by schools, and for inspection systems which challenge schools' records on "advancing equality" for both teachers and students.

In 2018, National Secular Society research found more than three-quarters of state-funded secondary faith schools in England were failing to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) impartially.

Out of 600 state secondary schools, 77% were found to be teaching the subject in accordance with religious scripture.

Many faith schools explicitly promoted the view that same-sex relationships were morally wrong.

Government guidance on RSE indicates schools must teach about LGBT relationships, in order to comply with the Equality Act 2010. However, the same guidance states faith schools, including those which are state funded, "may teach the distinctive faith perspective on relationships".

Schools without a religious character have also frequently come under pressure from religious lobbying groups opposed to teaching about same-sex relationships.

One such group, the anti-LGBT Muslim organisation Parents United, recently hosted a conference where speakers told attendees gay children must be taught to 'repent'.

It had previously complained about including same-sex relationships in RSE lessons and called for "faith-sensitive" curriculums.

In 2019, a Birmingham school suspended lessons on diversity after complaints about references to LGBT+ people were raised, predominantly by Muslim parents.

NSS: 'Teaching in accordance with faith undermines equality'

Jack Rivington, NSS campaigns officer, said: "These figures reveal how the influence of religion in education stifles important discussions around LGBT+ equality and inclusion.

"With almost all major religions holding negative views towards LGBT+ people and relationships, letting schools teach RSE in accordance with their faith ethos will almost inevitably lead to a lack of respect for equalities legislation and the dignity of individuals.

"Schools which fail to promote proper respect for the rights of all, under the guise of a faith ethos, should reflect on the role they play in enabling the kind of abhorrent abuse experienced by LGBT+ teachers. Removing undue religious influence from education is a necessary step to promote LGBT+ inclusion in schools."

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