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LGBTQ-inclusive education: everything you need to know

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All LGBTQ+ children and young people deserve an education that reflects who they are. Join us in building a world where LGBTQ+ youth are safe, seen and heard. Stop the threats to LGTBQ+ inclusive education and donate today.

In April 2019, the government announced new regulations for teaching Relationships and Sex Education in England.

This was a great step forward in the fight for equality, marking a significant change in the way children and young people are taught about LGBTQ+ relationships and identities. But the fight is far from over. We still need your support.

We’ve put together these questions to help you understand what the new regulations mean, how they will be implemented and, more broadly, why LGBT-inclusive education is so important.

What is LGBTQ-inclusive education and why does it matter?

Every young person deserves to see themselves, their family, and the full diversity of our world reflected in their curriculum. This includes teaching about LGBTQ+ identities and issues. While we’ve made huge strides towards LGBTQ+ equality in recent decades, anti-LGBT bullying and language unfortunately remain commonplace in Britain's schools. Nearly half of all LGBT pupils still face bullying for being who they are – and in order to change, it’s essential to deliver a curriculum that encourages all children and young people to respect those around them and appreciate difference.

The rest of these questions focus specifically on these changes to RSE in England. To find out more about our cross-curriculum LGBT inclusion, read our curriculum guide.

What has changed about Relationships and Sex Education?

In April 2019, with overwhelming support, parliament passed the new regulations for teaching Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in England. Since September 2020, all secondary schools in England have been required to teach RSE, and all primary schools in England have been required to teach Relationships Education (RE).

Schools can decide exactly how they teach RSE and RE (for example, which lesson plans they use), but the guidance sets out the key information that pupils should be taught. At secondary level, all schools must teach about sexual orientation and gender identity. At primary level, all schools must teach about different family types, which can include LGBTQ+ families.

Changes to Relationships and Sex Education are happening across the UK, but the below questions and answers mainly apply to England. See more about LGBTQ-inclusive education and how Relationships and Sex Education is changing in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the last question.

Why are these new guidelines on Relationships and Sex Education important?

The new guidelines on Relationships and Sex Education mean that all students – LGBTQ+ or not – who attend school in England will be taught about what safe and healthy relationships look like and how to have them.

The guidance that was being used before this was last updated in 2000, over two decades ago. This was even before the repeal of Section 28, the law which banned discussions of same-sex relationships in schools. As such, the guidance excluded LGBTQ+ people and families.

The new guidelines will better reflect the world that we now live in, covering important issues like consent and online safety alongside LGBTQ+ identities and relationships.

Even before the new guidance was introduced, thousands of schools were already teaching LGBTQ-inclusive lessons. Now, all secondary schools who weren’t doing so will now have to, and primary schools will be encouraged to.

What do the new guidelines on Relationships and Sex Education actually say, and what’s the difference for primary and secondary schools?

For secondary schools the guidance states that:

  • RSE must be taught in all schools in England
  • Sexual orientation and gender identity must be explored at a timely point
  • Same-sex relationships should be included within lessons discussing healthy and stable relationships
  • Schools should ‘be alive to issues such as everyday sexism, misogyny, homophobia and gender stereotypes’ and take positive action to build a culture where these are not tolerated

For primary schools, the guidance says that:

  • Relationships Education must be taught in all schools in England
  • It is recommended that schools teach Sex Education too, although they can choose not to
  • All schools should teach about different families (which can include LGBTQ+ parents), along with families headed by grandparents, single parents, adoptive parents, and foster parents/carers, among other family structures

Overall the guidance states that:

  • Schools need to make sure that the needs of all pupils are appropriately met
  • All pupils need to understand the importance of equality and respect
  • Schools must ensure they comply with the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, which name sexual orientation and gender reassignment as protected characteristics

Does this also include private schools?

Yes – the guidance applies to all schools in England.

So what will children in primary schools actually be learning about LGBTQ+ issues?

Lots of primary schools are already doing great work to teach their children about different families, and to prevent and tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

The difference is that now, every school will need to teach children about relationships and families. The guidance for primary schools says that this can include LGBTQ+ families. In practice, that means teaching children that it’s OK to have two mums, two dads or another family structure, such as being cared for by grandparents, single parents, or adoptive/foster parents. Take a look at some examples of books featuring different family structures.

New research shows that the majority of British public think it's right for teachers at primary school to talk positively about different families, including LGBTQ+ families.

We believe that children deserve to learn about a world which reflects the one in which they are growing up. Many children will have LGBTQ+ parents, friends or family members, and this new guidance will help them to grow up knowing that their families are accepted as much as everyone else’s.

Will parents be able to withdraw their children from lessons about LGBTQ+ people and relationships?

Parents can’t withdraw their children from Relationships Education in primary or secondary school. But they can withdraw their children from some or all of Sex Education at both primary and secondary level, up until three terms before their child’s 16th birthday.

In primary school, headteachers must grant this request automatically. At secondary level, headteachers are encouraged to discuss the request with parents before they can withdraw their children from Sex Education.

Good Relationships and Sex Education equips students with the knowledge to keep themselves safe and understand when a relationship or sexual encounter may be risky or harmful. Without accessing this information through school, children or young people might look to less reliable resources online, which may offer inaccurate or harmful advice.

There were protests at schools when the guidance was introduced – what were these about?

It was deeply saddening and distressing to see these protests. That said, protests happened at a very small number of schools.

The protesters argued that teaching about LGBTQ+ people goes against their parents’ rights to decide what their children learn. Faith is often cited as a reason.

However, we know that lots of faith schools and faith leaders believe in the importance of LGBTQ-inclusive education. With the support of the government, we’ve worked with over 600 faith schools in England who are committed to creating environments where all children, families and staff feel accepted and respected.

To prepare for when the new guidelines come into force in September 2020, it's essential that national and local government provide effective support for all schools to help them deliver LGBT-inclusive teaching and to engage with parents to explain the benefits of this teaching, and what it looks like in practice.

Is there political support for LGBTQ-inclusive Relationships and Sex Education?

Almost all MPs voted in favour of the changes to guidance (538 in favour, 21 against) and there was a consensus across all parties in support of this. This welcome change moved us away from the shadow of Section 28, the legislation which effectively banned any discussion of same-sex relationships in schools. We’re now calling on the government to continue to support this decision and provide enough funding to help schools put these new guidelines into practice.

What’s Stonewall doing to support schools who are teaching about LGBTQ+ people and relationships?

Stonewall was founded in response to Section 28, the legislation which effectively banned any discussion of same-sex relationships in schools. Today, it remains one of our top priorities to ensure that all children receive an education which reflects themselves, their families, and celebrates diversity.

The work we do to support schools includes our School & Colleges Champions and Children and Young People Champions programmes, best practice toolkits and resources, and e-learning courses to support school and college staff, and children and young people’s services staff.

We’ll also keep speaking out in support of the good work that schools are doing, and campaigning for money and resources to enable schools to properly apply the new RSE guidelines. You can help us by donating to our fundraiser to stop threats to inclusive education.

How can local authorities support schools in embedding this new guidance?

Local authorities oversee most schools in England. Every local authority (or council) will have an elected representative who leads on education and supporting the schools in their area. It’s helpful for local authorities to know that people in their area support LGBTQ-inclusive education and expect them to support local schools in putting the guidance into practice.

Stonewall's Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) programme provides local authority Children's Services with bespoke support, guidance and training on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Find out more.

What is ‘age-appropriate’ teaching?

The current RSE guidance states that teaching Relationships and Sex Education in secondary schools and Relationships Education in primary schools should be delivered in an ‘age-appropriate’ way.

We believe it’s vital for children to know that LGBTQ+ people and families exist and that they should be accepted like everybody else. Children should learn this throughout primary and secondary school. Not only will this help young children from LGBTQ+ families feel accepted, it will also prevent bullying in the long run.

As children and young people grow up, it’s crucial that they can be themselves without feeling that there is anything wrong about doing so. This means teaching should not only be ‘age-appropriate’ – it should also be timely. We know from our research that anti-LGBT bullying is common throughout primary schools, so it’s essential that children are supported to develop inclusive attitudes from a young age.

To find out more about how to do this, see our guide.

How can faith schools embed this new guidance?

How can faith schools embed this new guidance?

Many schools already doing LGBTQ-inclusive teaching, along with tackling and preventing homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, are faith and church schools.

The Public Sector Equality Duty requires all schools to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between people. And the Equality Act 2010 lists ‘gender reassignment’ and ‘sexual orientation’ as protected characteristics, as well as religion or belief. This means that all schools have a duty to make sure that their students are not discriminated against, either because of their faith and/or because they are LGBTQ+.

While we’ve previously seen some opposition from a small number of faith groups who believe that this education goes against their beliefs, many people of faith are also LGBTQ+, and do not feel that these identities are in opposition. It’s vital to work with faith and church schools to ensure that LGBTQ+ people of faith don’t face extra stigma for being who they are.

For more information on LGBTQ+ faith groups, see the below websites:

LGBTQ+ Muslim groups, Hidayah and Imaan. You can also contact the Muslim Youth Helpline.

LGBTQ+Jewish group, Keshet UK.

LGBTQ+Christian group, One Body One Faith

LGBTQ+ Catholic group, Quest.

I’m a parent/carer, how can I support my child's school to teach about LGBTQ+ people, families and relationships?

You can start the discussion with your child’s school. It may be a good idea to start by asking how they are currently teaching RSE, and how they’ve ensured that their lesson plans are LGBTQ inclusive.

Schools are required to engage with parents and carers in developing new policy. Schools will consult parents and carers in different ways, so you may be invited to a consultation meeting or to submit views by email, for example.

As part of the government’s new guidance, schools should have an up-to-date policy statement on RSE, which should be available to parents and carers. However, you can also ask about LGBTQ+ inclusivity in other policies, since inclusivity shouldn’t just be about RSE (find out more about this). Finally, you could suggest that they might want to become a Stonewall School Champion if they aren’t already.

I’m at school now, how will the changes in Relationships and Sex Education affect me?

If you’re at a secondary school, your school will need to ensure that Relationships and Sex Education lessons are LGBTQ+ inclusive, as well as covering important topics like consent and online safety.

I work in a school, what resources do Stonewall have to help my school be LGBTQ-inclusive?

Some useful resources include:

I’m a teacher, how can I help my students have a say?

We’ve made a guide for teachers to help them include their students’ voices in decisions made by the school.

If you work in a secondary school, find out more.

Will there be any more changes to Relationships and Sex Education, or is that it now?

The current guidance is set to be reviewed in 2022. We are hoping to strengthen the guidance after this review. In the meantime, we are campaigning with other organisations for more funding to help schools implement this current guidance, as well as helping to equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence to provide effective LGBTQ-inclusive teaching.

Is this happening across the whole of the UK?

In 2019, LGBTQ-inclusive Relationships and Sex Education was introduced in England’s schools after years of campaigning.

By the end of 2021, all Scottish schools will be required to embed LGBT-inclusive teaching across the curriculum (not just in teaching about relationships and sex). Find out more about LGBT-inclusive education in Scotland.

In 2022, LGBTQ-inclusive RSE will be introduced in all Welsh schools.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Education requires all grant-aided schools to develop their own policy on how they will address RSE. Guidance commissioned by the Department (produced by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment) for both primary and post-primary includes information on LGBTQ+ inclusion and how to challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

However, there is no requirement for schools to implement this guidance, nor are schools inspected on how they implement the guidance. This means that in practice many schools are still not teaching LGBTQ-inclusive RSE.

All LGBTQ+ children and young people deserve an education that reflects who they are. Join us in building a world where LGBTQ+ youth are safe, seen and heard. Stop the threats to LGTBQ+ inclusive education and donate today.

Find out more about our campaign for LGBTQ-inclusive education: #HearQueerYouth.

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