Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all schools teach awareness of LGBTQ issues in an age-appropriate manner.

We expect schools to ensure that teaching is relevant to all children and young people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). LGBT issues can be covered by schools within the curriculum and the current Sex and Relationship Education statutory guidance (2000) states that we expect all schools to ensure that young people, whatever their developing sexuality or gender identity, feel that the subject is relevant to them, and sensitive to their needs. All schools must comply with the Equality Act (2010).

The Government Equalities Office launched a £3 million programme from 2016-2019 to prevent and address homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools. The programme will support thousands of teachers to better identify homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, and to support LGBT pupils.

Following the passage of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the teaching of Relationships Education in primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education in secondary schools will be mandatory. As part of the current call for evidence, we are working with teachers, parents, experts and others to develop age-appropriate subject content, including on mental health, keeping safe online and LGBT issues.