School teaches ‘LGBTQ couples and contraception are wrong’ in sex education

Concerns have been raised over a school that is allegedly teaching teenagers that same-sex couples are wrong and women should be ‘receiver-responders’.

St Mary’s Roman Catholic High School in Lugwardine, Hereford, has come under fire by the local council which is ‘disturbed’ over its sex and relationship education.

It is said to be using the Catholic and Christian education programme ‘A Fertile Heart’, which says that LGBTQ people must abstain from sex and cannot marry.

The resource, which has the approval of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, also teaches that contraception is ‘wrong’ and that men were ‘created to initiate sexual relationships’.

One suggested class activity in A Fertile Heart says: ‘Discuss whether contraception has truly liberated women, or actually made them more “available” and vulnerable to being used.’

She told the paper: ‘It seems to be at odds with the essential role of a school to foster caring and cooperative relations between all children and staff, to respect differences and to support and encourage children as they negotiate the difficulties of adolescence.

‘We are disturbed at the failure of the Archdiocese of Cardiff, responsible for directing its schools as to what it teaches, to respond to us over this or other matters concerning the safeguarding of children, in spite of attempts on our part to engage with them.’

Headteacher Stuart Wetson defended St Mary’s sex education and said it is inspired by the religious teachings of the Roman Catholic faith.

He said: ‘In accordance with the Department for Education’s guidance on Relationships and Sex Education, we are committed to providing our pupils with opportunities for broad and balanced debate on a range of issues whilst teaching distinctive faith perspectives on relationships.

‘We continue to review and evaluate our practice, sharing feedback from teachers, pupils and parents with the Archdiocese of Cardiff and the publishers of key resources.

‘Please see our most recent Ofsted and Section 48 Inspection reports, which comment directly on our ‘Outstanding’ provision in all areas.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted the Archdiocese of Cardiff for comment.