A new opinion poll indicates widespread support for faith schools to teach sex education and refrain from presenting creationism (that the world was created in broadly its present form by God) as a scientific theory. The YouGov poll, commissioned by The Jewish Chronicle, found that the public thought state funded faith schools should not be freed from requirements that they do not teach creationism as science by 67% to 18%. Meanwhile, respondents stated that they believed faith schools should not be freed from a requirement to provide sex education by 82% to 9% – by a ratio of more than nine to one.
Currently state maintained schools are prevented from teaching creationism as science because of having to follow the National Curriculum and its associated guidance, while Academies and Free Schools (which are exempted from National Curriculum) are prevented from doing so because of their funding agreement with central government. The issue rose up the media agenda recently after Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School in Hackney stated that they had worked with exam boards to censor questions in GCSE Science exams, taught creationism and did not provide sex education. Good schools already provide pupils with Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), though the only requirement that they provide any sex education stems from National Science Curriculum, a provision Accord criticises as ‘cursory’.
Accord Chair, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, said ‘The poll indicates widespread support for schools keeping their science and religious teaching apart and for pupils to receive sex education. Further safeguards should be put in place to require schools to provide SRE that is balanced and promotes an acceptance of sexual diversity, but there is no need that measures to either protect the integrity of science teaching or ensure pupils know of risks they may face should prevent faith schools from being able to present their perspective on these topics.
‘The Government has no excuse to not make broad and balanced SRE part of a statutory curriculum for all state funded schools and as a matter of urgency. It would be in keeping with public sentiment, evidence and expert opinion, as well as better serve the future health and well-being of pupils.’
