‘No Outsiders’ storybooks for children met with intolerance
Do parents have the right to stop schools teaching diversity because it goes against their beliefs?
Awarded an MBE in 2017 for his services to equality and diversity in education, Andrew Moffat finds himself at the centre of a heated debate on what is taught in some schools. He has come under fire for his No Outsiders programme that teaches diversity, inclusivity and tolerance of difference. Parents, mainly of Muslim faith, have been protesting outside schools in Birmingham where the No Outsiders picture books were being used to teach aspects of the Equalities Act.
Schools decide whether to teach age-appropriate lessons on LGBT issues. As assistant headteacher at Parkfield Community School, Mr Moffat was involved in teaching the No Outsiders programme. According to the BBC, protests began outside Parkfield School in January when parents claimed the lessons were inappropriate for young children even though Ofsted confirmed the lessons were age appropriate.
Teachers at schools in Birmingham teaching predominantly Muslim children have been intimidated by the protests over the lessons. Mr Moffat even received death threats. Parkfield has since withdrawn lessons until a resolution with parents can be found.
