Headteachers’ leaders have accused education secretary Gillian Keegan of “undermining” trust in schools following her call for relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) materials to be shared with parents.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the NAHT school leaders’ union have written to Ms Keegan, criticising the tone of a Department for Education press release and warning that her “pursuit of a headline” could undermine schools and feed a “breakdown of trust that is corrosive”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, and Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, wrote to Ms Keegan saying that “inflaming controversy over RSHE” could exacerbate the deepening teacher recruitment and retention crisis, adding that it was ”hardly likely to encourage people into the profession or inspire confidence among teachers”.
The letter comes after Ms Keegan wrote to schools on Monday - when many would be on half term - to clarify that companies providing teaching resources cannot use copyright law to forbid schools from sharing materials.
Ms Keegan’s letter followed a similar letter she sent to schools in March, asking them to comply with a legal obligation to publish their RSHE approach, as well as share all curriculum materials with parents.
School leaders also raised concerns on Monday that the latest call would create a “huge additional workload requirement”.
Keegan challenged over RSHE demand
Mr Barton and Mr Whiteman said in the letter: ”We are writing to raise our concerns about the way in which your letter to schools regarding RSHE materials was ‘spun’ into a press release that was clearly designed to give the impression that you are getting tough with recalcitrant schools for failing to provide access to these materials.
“In reality, we think that the vast majority of schools already share RSHE materials with parents and that if there are examples where this has not happened for any reason, it is in a very small number of cases. This simply isn’t an issue which warrants a press release containing the comment from you: ‘No ifs, no buts and no more excuses.’”
They added: “It is desperately disappointing that you, as the secretary state for education - the very person who should be standing up for schools - instead chooses to denigrate them in pursuit of a headline. This sort of thing undermines public institutions and feeds a breakdown of trust that is corrosive.
“It is also incredibly hard to recruit and retain enough staff to deliver the curriculum in general, let alone the extra demands of a subject as sensitive as RSHE. Inflaming controversy over RSHE is hardly likely to encourage people into the profession or inspire confidence among teachers who are teaching this subject.”
Mr Barton and Mr Whiteman said that their unions were publicising today’s letter to provide “balance” to the statements issued by the Department for Education on Monday.
The DfE launched a review of RSHE in March, as Ms Keegan said she was “deeply concerned” about reports of inappropriate lessons being taught in schools.
The review is expected to be concluded by the end of the year.
The government said Ms Keegan had been clear that the vast majority of schools are teaching about sensitive issues in a good way but said there had been reports to the DfE, MPs and in the media of some schools not sharing materials when requested by parents, often because of a misunderstanding of copyright laws.
A government spokesperson said: “It is a parent’s fundamental right to know what their child is being taught in school. This letter makes sure that schools, teachers and parents are empowered to share sex and relationship education materials. We hope the unions will support the clarity and reassurance we’ve provided to all.”
