Primary school stops gay teacher’s LGBT lessons after 300 Muslim parents protest

A PRIMARY school has halted a gay teacher's LGBT lessons after protests from 300 Muslim parents.

Parents withdrew kids from Parkfield Community School in Birmingham over the diversity classes and have been staging weekly protests outside the school gates.

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Parents said the No Outsiders inclusiveness and diversity programme, set up by gay assistant head Andrew Moffat, promoted his personal beliefs.

The school had previously said lessons would continue as normal after the Easter holidays - despite the protests - alongside its "welcoming" No Outsiders stance.

But it has now reversed that decision and said those lessons which were aimed to teach tolerance of diverse groups - including those of different races, genders and sexual orientation - will not be taught "until a resolution has been reached".

Talks had been held involving parents, education chiefs and the academy trust that runs the school which led to the announcement.

SUSPENDED LESSONS

The school said: “We are eager to continue to work together with parents over the coming days and weeks to find a solution that will support the children in our school to continue their education in a harmonious environment.

"Until a resolution has been reached, No Outsiders lessons will not be taught at Parkfield and we hope that children will not be removed from school to take part in protests."

The Parkfield Community Group, which organised the protests, welcomed the move.

The group said: "We made our position clear, that the No Outsiders programme cannot continue to be taught at Parkfield School and that a new programme needs be negotiated, with which parents are happy and meets the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

"We will await further developments early next week when we expect detailed proposals to be tabled.

"We will then review our actions with respect to protests and schoolwide withdrawal of children.

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Outside the school gates this morning parents were supportive of the move.

One, who declined to be named, said: "Of course we aren't against equality - the problem was too much emphasis on the LGBT side.

"The DfE listened to us. We'll see what happens now."

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