We need new guidance to tackle prejudice and bigotry in our schools

When I was at school in the 1980s, I knew that I was gay. However, I felt unable to be open about it. I only shared the truth with a single friend.

I know there are thousands of young people today who feel the same, despite all the progress we have made in the last three decades.

Recently, the ugly spectre of Section 28 has reared its head again; something that I thought had long ago been buried by the last Labour Government.

Although the presence of outdated guidance in some schools appeared to be an administrative error, it raises important questions about whether the policies the Government has in place are fit for purpose or even really reflect what is happening in many schools.

In 2010, the Labour Government was updating Sex and Relationships Guidance. It included important developments to reflect the abolition of Section 28, including promoting awareness, respect and understanding of different relationships and practices. It also clearly stated that prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality was unacceptable, and talked about how young people can challenge homophobia.

Due to the general election, the new guidance was lost and the current Government has not implemented it, nor have they implemented our plans to make sex and relationships education a statutory part of the national curriculum.

There are also some worrying things going on with Michael Gove’s new national curriculum. The Government has removed the reference to “the decriminalisation of homosexuality” from the draft history curriculum, which was to be taught as part of 20^th century history. In addition, the specific mention of “gender identity” has been erased from the new curriculum, something that will be of real concern to the trans community, who still face unacceptable prejudice.

I would sort out this situation. Labour support calls from Stonewall and others to update the 2000 guidance to reflect both the abolition of Section 28 and the fact that so much has changed in the last 13 years. We should also ensure the curriculum is relevant to the modern world and does everything to promote equality and tolerance.

13 years ago, twitter, ask.fm and modern smartphones did not exist. Webcams were uncommon and practices like sexting and cyberbullying were not something many young people had to worry about.

Today things are very different. Many parents rightly worry about what children and young people are doing online or on their phones. Although things have improved, homophobic bullying is still too commonplace both in schools and wider society.

So we need to ensure the guidance reflects the real world. We need to ensure that all schools understand their responsibility to tackle homophobic bullying and that gay people are reflected appropriately in guidance and the curriculum.

Things are improving. According to research by the University of Cambridge conducted for Stonewall, the levels of LGB young people experiencing homophobia has fallen from 65% in 2007 to 55% in 2012. That is still far too high.

Many schools are doing excellent work. Swindon Academy has a campaign to challenge homophobic language, which is still too common in schools. And pupils at the Magna Carta School in Surrey produced a short film which showed the terrible effect on their peers of homophobic bullying. We need to ensure that this kind of practice is the norm in all schools.

Although it was not homophobic, I was bullied myself at school, and I still remember the fear it caused me. We know in some cases that this kind of bullying can lead to the most tragic conclusions.

We all have a duty in society to tackle prejudice and bigotry. But it is up to politicians to take the lead. Michael Gove needs to make sure the curriculum and school guidance are fit for purpose. Otherwise, we will.

Stephen Twigg is Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary