Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the Prime Minister’s comments at the PinkNews Awards on 18 October, what steps they are taking to ensure that “LGBT issues are taught well” in English schools; and at what age groups such lessons will be aimed.

Schools are bound by the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty 2011, to ensure that teaching is accessible to all children and young people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

All schools should make provision for high quality, age appropriate personal, social, economic and health education, which includes Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). When teaching RSE, all secondary schools, including academies through their funding agreement, must have regard to the Sex and Relationship Education guidance attached.

The government is making the teaching of Relationships Education in primary schools and RSE in secondary schools mandatory through regulations. The department has begun a process of engagement and will be working with teachers, parents, safeguarding experts and others to develop age-appropriate subject content for all key stages. This process will support the development of the regulations and guidance, both of which are subject to public consultation next year.