Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has “launched an investigation”, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said, as an MP raised the claim of a “pupil who identified as a cat”.
It has been reported that a teacher at Rye College, in East Sussex, was recorded telling a pupil she was “despicable” for refusing to accept her classmate identified as a cat.
Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne told the Commons: “Pupils have been denounced as despicable for failing to accept at the reality of a fellow pupil who identified as a cat.
“Can we have a debate on Confucius, for it was he who observed that the most difficult thing is to search a dark room for a black cat, particularly when there is no cat.”
Ms Mordaunt replied: “I thank (him) for not just the question but the typically dramatic way in which he has asked it.
“I shall leave Confucius aside, but should say (to) him that the heart of the matter he is getting to, the Department for Education is obviously currently reviewing guidance to schools on these matters and I understand also that the Education Secretary has launched an investigation into the particular incident he refers to.”
Independent MP Scott Benton (Blackpool South) argued that “indoctrination in our education system is deeply disturbing”.
He said: “The absurd campaign to rewrite the biological reality of sex reached new heights this week with a teacher branding a child despicable for refusing to accept a classmate who was cat.
“This comes after an investigation has found that schoolchildren are being allowed to identify as horses, dinosaurs and in one case as a moon. This type of indoctrination in our education system is deeply disturbing and must be addressed.
“The rights of parents and children simply must come first. Will (she) find time for a debate on the steps the Government can take to ensure that our young people are not being exposed and indoctrinated with such nonsense in our schools.”
Ms Mordaunt replied: “(He) will know that the Department for Education is reviewing the relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance and is expecting that to go out to public consultation later this year.
“A huge amount of work has gone into this and the review is being done by an independent expert panel with input from health, children’s development, curriculum experts and safeguarding and he can ask the Education Secretary about this on July 17, which is the next education questions.”
A spokesperson for the school, said: “We have now met with the Department for Education (DfE) to share a comprehensive update on the events which took place before, during and after the recording.
“This meeting was a positive step and we will continue working closely with them to ensure any appropriate action is taken. We can confirm, no children at Rye College identify as a cat or any other animal.
“More widely, we understand that draft guidance on gender identity in schools is expected to be issued by the Government soon and we would of course welcome what we hope will be clear and helpful guidance to support all teachers and schools in addressing gender identity going forward. This will be particularly useful in developing future training to ensure staff feel confident, well-equipped and well-prepared to address these issues.
"We remain committed to offering our pupils an inclusive education in line with best practice and will continue to support our teachers in their endeavours to ensure that pupils’ views are listened to, and encourage them to ask questions and engage in discussion.”
