A group of parents has lost a legal challenge against teaching children about gender identity and gender in primary schools in Wales.
Campaigners have launched a High Court legal review against the Welsh Government’s new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum, which they have described as “dangerous” and “alarming”.
The RSE curriculum starts in September and includes compulsory education for students from the age of seven. Parents argued that the code and the guidelines supporting schools to deliver it failed to mention traditional ideas related to family life and gave importance to LGBTQ+ themes.
Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed the legal challenge after a two-day hearing in Cardiff, concluding: “There is nothing in the code or guidance which authorizes or positively endorses teaching which defends or promotes any particular identity or sexual lifestyle over another, or which promotes children to define themselves in a certain way.’
She said the RSE curriculum aims to “promote tolerance between people, regardless of their sexual orientation and identity, and to enable children to deal critically with the influences of society so that they develop into responsible and emancipated citizens capable of participating in the democratic processes of a pluralistic society”. She said its introduction was “the product of a process of careful consideration”.
Welcoming the decision, Jeremy Miles, Welsh Government Education Secretary, said: “We have been clear that RSE aims to keep children safe and promote respect and healthy relationships. Parents can expect that the education their children receive is appropriate for their children’s age and maturity.
“I am appalled at the misinformation that has been purposefully spread by some activists and the added pressure this has placed on some schools and the workforce.”
Kim Isherood, one of the plaintiffs and chair of the Children’s Public Protection Campaign in Wales, accused the Labour-led Welsh Government of “overreaching”, adding: “We asked the court to help us protect our children from future emotional, physical and psychological disability.”
She said they would appeal. “We look forward to another court hearing in the coming weeks where we will fight even harder to protect our children from a dangerous wake-up program that has gone off the rails.”
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Vivienne Laing from NSPCC Cymru/Wales welcomed the decision. She said the inclusion of RSE ensures that every child has information that is relevant, sensitive and age-appropriate to their capabilities and needs. “This has lifelong benefits for children and young people, teaching them healthy and positive relationships, empowering them to recognize violence and learning about their rights to be safe and healthy.”
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