Kids will never again be told they would be happier as trans, vows Gillian Keegan in clampdown on sex education
TEACHERS are to be banned from telling children they could be identifying as the wrong gender, Gillian Keegan vows today.
Under-nines will also not receive sex education classes in future, the Education Secretary says, amid fears children are being taught inappropriate content.
Older pupils will be taught about legally protected characteristics such as sexual orientation and gender reassignment in the major clampdown.
They will not get lessons in the “contested” subject of gender identity and parents will have the right to see what kids are taught.
Writing in The Sun today, Ms Keegan says: “Teachers are there to teach children facts, not push the agendas of campaign groups.
“Never again will young girls be taught they might be that little bit happier if they were a boy.”
Rishi Sunak added that it would protect kids from “disturbing” content being shown in class following fears from parents over graphic lessons.
He said: “Parents rightly trust that when they send their children to school, they are kept safe and will not be exposed to disturbing content that is inappropriate for their age.
“That’s why I was horrified to hear reports of this happening in our classrooms last year.”
Our exclusive leak of the plans yesterday sparked fury from the National Education Union, which called it “yet more culture war noise from an ill-informed and out-of-touch Government”.
The NAHT union said limits on what can be discussed and when may not be in children’s best interest and it may drive them to seek information from “less reliable sources”.
A Labour spokesman said: “Sex education in schools should be age-appropriate.”