Progressive rabbis pit themselves against Charedi campaigners with letter backing LGBT teaching plans

The government has proposed strengthening guidelines to make clear that schools should teach respect for other peoples by referring to all the protected characteristics in the Equality Act which include same-sex orientation and gender reassignment.

The inspection service Ofsted believes this is already required by existing regulations but strictly Orthodox leaders dispute the legal interpretation.

A legal opinion obtained by one Stamford Hill activist, Shraga Stern, which was recently sent to the DfE, said it would be a breach of the religious rights of traditional Jews to make them teach topics that conflicted with their religious ethos.

Charedi organisations have been in extensive talks with the DfE and Ofsted in an attempt to find a solution.

It has been reported that the DfE would be willing to exempt independent primary schools from having to talk about LGBT issues but the department has not confirmed this.

The letter signed by the Progressive rabbis asked Education Secretary to ensure that that “irrespective of the type of school they attend, all children are supported and allowed to thrive through education that actively promotes respect and encourages LGBT acceptance”.

A senior Charedi leader, Dayan Sholem Friedman, was among a delegation that met Schools Standards Minister Nick Gibb last week, according to photographs tweeted by blogger Ifyoutickleus.