Schools are using 'overtly political materials' to educate children about gender issues, Ofsted has warned. Despite a statutory requirement for neutrality, some staff are 'confusing' their legal obligations under The Equality Act 2010 with moral issues and often 'inadvertently' teaching without acknowledging certain material as political, the watchdog said. Ofsted's director of corporate strategy Chris Jones said that 'increasing political sensitivities' in areas addressed by the act 'have made it harder for schools to handle equalities well'. The 2010 Equality Act created a 'public sector equality duty' requiring every public authority to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation and advancing equality of opportunity. The 'new' names were used in the classroom, and on pupil registers and official communications from school authorities.

Source: Daily Mail July 07, 2021 00:33 UTC