Children, Schools and Families Bill

Parents have a right to withdraw their children from schools and to home-educate their children, which is another right that the Bill will infringe. I do not believe that creationism should be in the school science curriculum—the hon. Gentleman is right about that—but parents ultimately have the right to educate their children at home if they wish. As a result of our continued opposition to clause 14, the Government have chosen to withdraw all four clauses that relate to PSHE. We would have been happy to discuss PSHE being part of the curriculum, and we are therefore extremely surprised that the Government have chosen to withdraw entirely all four clauses. If we are elected to form the next Government, the role of PSHE in the curriculum is an issue that we would address and consult on. As my noble Friend Baroness Perry said in another place last night,""It would be almost impossible to find a secondary school, and very rare to find a primary school, that does not teach personal, social and health education."—[Official Report, House of Lords, 7 April 2010; Vol. 718, c. 1587.]"