Parents are banned from removing primary school children from new 'relationships education' classes teaching LGBT issues, consent and how to recognise abuse

Parents of primary school children have been banned from withdrawing them from a new 'relationships education' class.

But the Government's decision is facing a judicial review, according to The Telegraph, over the lessons which cover LGBT issues, consent and how to recognise abuse.

The Department of Education's new regime is due to start in September and though schools are asked to liaise with parents, the ultimate decision on what is taught lies with staff.

Parents of primary-aged children are allowed to remove them from sex education classes, without the need for any explanation, but this prerogative does not extend to the new 'relationships' subject. 

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The Department of Education's new regime is due to start in September and though schools are asked to liaise with parents on the curriculum, the ultimate decision on what is taught lies with staff (stock image)

Campaigning group Let Kids be Kids says the classes should not be compulsory because they could interfere with a family's 'religious and philosophical convictions.'

In a letter to the Government ahead of the judicial review, the group wrote that this is 'an educational regime which taken as a whole no longer gives effect to the rights of parents to ensure teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions and is therefore in breach of the parents' rights.' 

They say the right to remove from sex education should be extended to 'relationships education' due to the 'controversial moral' material which could be taught by teachers of a particular ideological persuasion.

The Government has a July 31 deadline to respond to the letter before a claim is launched. 

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Parents of primary-aged children are allowed to remove them from sex education classes, without the need for any explanation, but this prerogative does not extend to the new 'relationships' subject (stock image)

A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'From September, Relationships Education will be compulsory for all primary school-aged pupils, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) will be compulsory for all secondary school-aged pupils, and Health Education will be compulsory for all state-funded school pupils.

'These subjects are designed to foster respect for others and to educate pupils about healthy relationships.

'Schools are best placed to understand their pupils and the guidance gives them the flexibility to tailor their teaching to the needs and backgrounds of the young people in their care.'

Let Kids be Kids was founded by Charlie Colchester in 2020. He set up Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE) in 1983.