Amanda Spielman has accused parents protesting outside a Birmingham primary school of setting a “terrible example for the children”.

Ofsted’s chief inspector spoke out about the controversy surrounding Parkfield Community School during an address to the Muslim Teachers’ Association yesterday.

The school introduced its No Outsiders programme of lessons about equality, diversity and acceptance in 2014, but it has become the subject of protests from some parents in recent weeks because of LGBT-related content.

Profile: Andrew Moffat - ‘I remember being an outsider’

Quick read: Ofsted praises school at centre of LGBT row

Background: Teacher shortlisted for global prize 

The lessons were devised by assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat, who has told Tes that seeing some of his pupils involved in the demonstrations outside the school was “very hurtful”.

Ms Spielman yesterday outlined the duties the government places on all schools in England to actively promote the four British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

She emphasised the importance of dialogue, but acknowledged that this can “take us into uneasy territory”, such as where religious belief can come into conflict with elements of equalities law.

She raised the subject of events at Parkfield, and told the association that she understood the strength of feeling in that community.

‘Making a difficult situation worse’

However, Ms Spielman added: “It serves no one well to intimidate teachers and start protesting outside the school gates. All that does is make a difficult situation worse, while setting a terrible example for the children.

“It is children’s voices that always get lost when adults stop talking and start shouting.

“It must be better to engage in calm discussions in order to find a sensible middle ground - one that means children are prepared for life in a diverse, modern, progressive country like ours, but it’s done in a sensitive and careful manner that respects the concerns of age, religion or any other background or context.”

She said that, through dialogue “we advance understanding and find common solutions”.

Parkfield has suspended its use of the No Outsiders lessons until it has reached a resolution with parents - an approach that Mr Moffat said he supported.

Ms Spielman has previously backed Mr Moffat and his lessons, saying that young people should know that “there are families that have two mummies or two daddies”.

And last month, the inspectorate published a report about Parkfield that said inspectors had found no evidence that PSHE at the school focused disproportionately on LGBT-related issues, or that the subject was not taught in an age-appropriate manner.

The report added that almost all the parents who completed Ofsted’s questionnaire, Parent View, and who spoke with inspectors, shared the school’s vision and were happy with the quality of education the school provided.