Please pray for a meeting this evening (20 November) between Izzy Montague and school governors at Heavers Farm Primary School in South East London.
In June, a number of parents whose children attended the school – including Izzy – raised concerns about a gay pride event that the school was running. Children as young as five were forced to take part and parents were told that there would be no opt out allowed.
Parents say that they have been misled with incorrect statements of law when they challenged the school on the issue of the Pride event.
When one family asked to meet the Executive Headteacher, Ms Susan Papas, to discuss the issue, they were joined at the meeting by the head’s daughter, also a member of staff, who confrontationally wore a t-shirt asking, “Why be racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic, when you could just be quiet?”
The parents say that the school is forcing a very aggressive LGBT agenda onto young children in a manner which abuses parental rights and victimises parents. For example, one photo displayed on the school’s website shows a young child proudly sharing their dream that boys would be allowed to share toilets with girls.
Many of the concerned parents are fearful of speaking to the press over concerns that their children will be further victimised and/or expelled. Many of them asked to attend tonight’s meeting but only Izzy has been allowed to attend.
Izzy explained the change in the school’s attitude towards her since her complaints:
“After I complained about my young child being forced to take place in an event that goes against our Christian beliefs, the school’s attitude towards me changed completely. I know other parents who are afraid to speak up because of how the school has treated me.
“It was like being bullied. They stopped treating me like any other parent but were antagonistic towards me. I believe that they retaliated against me by unreasonably excluding me from the premises, victimising my child and not taking my safeguarding concerns seriously.
“I wasn’t even trying to stop the Pride event. I just wanted my child to receive an education, rather than indoctrination.”
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre said:
“In another example of ‘totalitolerance’, those who preach tolerance and diversity the loudest do not appear to be interested in practising it.
“The treatment of parents at Heavers Farm Primary School represents one of the most chilling breaches of parental rights I have ever seen in my many years of working on educational issues.
“Education is always a partnership between the school and parents, but the school’s actions show disrespect, dismissiveness and hostility towards these parents. A particular agenda is being forced onto children inside the school gates and parents are being given no means to ensure that their children are being taught in line with their religious and philosophical beliefs.”
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