Ministers believe the law, which bans the promotion of homosexuality, inhibits efforts to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. Ministers’ efforts to repeal it were blocked by the House of Lords last year, but the Government is committed to trying again. P> The TES poll, which suggests that only 7 per cent of teachers think that abolition will make their job easier, will be seized on by “keep the clause” campaigners and the Tories as evidence that the law does not protect bullies.

Teachers are split over whether Section 28 should be repealed with a small majority in favour of the move.