Department for Education clarifies deleted tweet claiming it’s ‘nonsense’ schools must teach gay rights
The Department for Education has clarified a deleted tweet claiming that it’s “nonsense” to suggest that schools “must teach gay rights”.
It came after a report in the Sunday Times today suggested that the government would give Ofsted inspectors more powers to downgrade schools that fail to comply with the Equality Act, with a requirement to “actively promote” tolerance.
It read: “Nonsense to say schools ‘must teach gay rights’. We want schools to teach broad curric based on British values.”
However, following several statements of condemnation from users on the social network, including from the President of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron, the tweet has since been deleted.
A series of follow-up tweets have now been issued to clarify the Department for Education’s stance:
Clarification @thesundaytimes: It is complete nonsense to say that schools are being forced to ‘teach gay rights’ against their will. (1/5)
— DfE (@educationgovuk) November 2, 2014
Ofsted are rightly ensuring that schools do not indoctrinate pupils about gay people – or any other people – being inferior. (2/5) — DfE (@educationgovuk) November 2, 2014
The same goes for schools that do things like make girls sit separately at the back of the class. (3/5)
— DfE (@educationgovuk) November 2, 2014
Both are practices which go directly against the fundamental British values of tolerance and respect. (4/5)
— DfE (@educationgovuk) November 2, 2014
We believe schools should prepare all pupils for life in modern Britain. A broad and balanced curriculum is vital for this (5/5)
— DfE (@educationgovuk) November 2, 2014
