LGBT students are feeling ‘abandoned’, says Parkinson

In a question to Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen, he also asked if it was correct that Liberate CEO Ellie Jones had been banned from teaching in schools – a claim later denied by Education Inclusion Services.

Deputy Dudley-Owen declined to answer the question about Mx Jones, saying that it would be wrong of her to talk about an individual, but she said that local schools were ‘very inclusive’.

The Youth Commission worked with the schools to ensure that all groups were included in the school environment, including those who identified as LGBT, she said.

Speaking later, Deputy Parkinson said that he had been told by members of Liberate about the ban against Mx Jones.

But teaching on LGBT issues generally by Liberate had stopped, he said.

‘For many years Liberate used to go into schools to deliver one lesson to Years 7, 9 and 11 on inclusivity, and these lessons were welcomed by head teachers and other teachers responsible for this area, and they were very happy to delegate this essential education to subject matter specialists,’ he said.

The practice stopped from the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, he said, because ESC was waiting for guidance on relationships from the UK government.

Although to the best of Deputy Parkinson’s knowledge, that guidance had not been received, the suspension of teaching by Liberate had continued.

‘My understanding is that LGBT students in our schools feel abandoned and they’re no longer being supported.’

He suspected that the teachers were delivering lessons on this topic.

‘But they’re not specialists, and they’re not necessarily members of the LGBT community, so students at best are not seeing any representation from that community in the schools.’

An Education Inclusion Services spokesman said that lessons on LGBT matters were taught by professional teachers.

‘All schools and settings have appropriate policies in place to ensure all children and young people access a safe environment for learners and that they are treated fairly and equitably,’ he said.

‘Our schools are very inclusive environments, as per the commitment in the Education Strategy and as evidenced through all of our schools achieving Unicef’s Rights Respecting Schools Award.

‘We have categorically not banned any organisations or people from any Education site(s) in relation to this issue.’

Mx Jones did not wish to comment on the matter at the moment.

‘I have to chat to a few people first,’ she said.

‘I can’t talk about it now, but I’ll be very happy to talk about it nearer the election.’

Deputy Parkinson said he understood her sensitivity.

‘But I think the public should know that support for these students has now been, I would say, downgraded. They [ESC] might say internalised.’