The Department for Education has issued guidance to councils on how to handle protests at schools sparked by new LGBT content in relationships and sex education lessons.

According to the BBC, the government has shared a 21-page document laying out how councils should support teachers to keep disruption to a minimum, as schools prepare to deliver the compulsory LGBT-inclusive curriculum from September 2020.

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The new relationships and sex education (RSE) framework, set out in statutory guidance from the DfE, has been met with outrage from some parents who believe it is inappropriate to teach children about LGBT relationships.

Protests over LGBT lessons

Earlier this year, parents were banned from protesting directly outside a Birmingham primary school following High Court intervention.

And in June, Tes reported that schools in a growing number of areas were being targeted by “coordinated campaigns” attacking LGBT content in lessons.

Now the government has reportedly issued advice to councils aimed at “encouraging parents to talk to their school about concerns, rather than protest at the school gates”.

A leaked document seen by the BBC suggests that local authorities could consider enforcement action if pupils are withdrawn from school because parents are opposed to the new curriculum.

Teachers who have seen the document reportedly spoke of their frustration at not being consulted before the advice was issued.