An Open Letter from School Staff

Introduction

Section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2019 placed a duty on the Secretary of State to 'ensure that the recommendations in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW report are implemented in respect of Northern Ireland'. While Paragraph 85 cleared the way for the decriminalisation of abortion, Paragraph 86 includes a range of social re-education steps to make abortion more acceptable to the public. Included in this is the introduction of a compulsory RSE Curriculum.

On the 6th of June 2023 the Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, made a written statement to the House of Commons, indicating that he intended to change the RSE Curriculum in Northern Ireland. He said:

'I have today laid Regulations in Parliament to implement the CEDAW recommendation to "make age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, a compulsory component of curriculum for adolescents, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion in Northern Ireland, and monitor its implementation". The Regulations will mirror the approach taken in England with regard to education about the prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion.'

In other words Chris Heaton-Harris is once again legislating on a devolved issue to ensure that schools cannot alter their RSE Policy to match their ethos and, instead, must teach a set curriculum including pro abortion propaganda and LGBTQ+ indoctrination.

The Future RSE Curriculum?

In May 2023 CCEA launched a Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Hub, containing a range of resources and topics to support the learning and teaching of RSE. These resources include guidance for teachers within a new Progression Framework.

In the future CCEA's Progression Framework will form the basis for the new statutory Post Primary RSE Curriculum for Northern Ireland that is to be released by January 2024 This was confirmed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, during a Delegated Legislation Committee debate at Westminster on the 26th of June when he said:

"The Department of Education and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment have been developing an RSE progression framework that will be adapted and used in the guidance issued by the Department."

The adaptation that the Secretary of State requires to the CCEA Progression Framework is the inclusion of information on how pupils can access and perform their own abortions without parental knowledge or consent.

Note: CCEA's Progression Framework will continue to be non-statutory for primary schools. Some schools, however, may choose to use some of the material contained within the framework.

While some of the resources are good there are many resources that should rightly be a cause for concern for parents. Below highlights some of the major areas within the Progression Framework that parents should be concerned with. Each area is split by age group and shows what CCEA believes pupils at those age groups should be able to do or understand.

Key Stage 1 (Primary 3&4)

be able to list various family types and structures and explain them (for example two mothers, two fathers, adoption, fostering, single parent and kinship).
be able to name private parts of the male and female body and consolidate previous learning.
understand that it is okay to have funny names for private parts but that it is important that they know the proper names too.

Key Stage 2 (Primary 5-7)

understand what love and nurture mean in different contexts.
identify various family structures and diversity of relationships in the world today.
know the meaning of the terms heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.
understand that how people look, how people behave, or their aspirations should not be limited by traditional expectations of what boys and girls should do.

Key Stage 3 (Years 8-10)

develop an understanding of sexual identity and be able to describe the terms associated with sex, gender and sexual orientation and give examples.
understand and respect the need for tolerance and acceptance towards various lifestyles, attitudes and values, and acknowledge the unacceptability of prejudice.
understand that the way individuals think of themselves or describe themselves to others in terms of their gender is unique to them and should be respected.
recognise bullying, including homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying, cyberbullying etc., and their responsibilities, and develop coping strategies.

Key Stage 4 (Years 11-12)

describe the concepts of sexual identity, gender identity and sexual orientation
learn about diversity in sexual attraction, developing sexuality, the gender norms, gender equality, stereotypes, bias and gender-based violence (GBV)
understand ways that gender roles affect decisions about sexual behaviour, contraceptive use and life planning
analyse how more gender equal roles can contribute to a healthier sexual relationship.

Can you deliver this content to your pupils?

Currently there is no opt out for school staff!

Chris Heaton-Harris's legislation requires the Department of Education to create a mechanism for parents to opt their children out of a number of areas of the RSE curriculum. Unfortunately he has not provided the same opportunity to teachers, classroom assistants and support staff who will be forced to prepare and deliver these lessons.

This is where our open letter comes in! By uniting together we can demand that the Department of Education respect the religious and moral views of staff by providing an opt out and we can let them know that, if they don't, we won't comply with any orders to prepare or deliver the new RSE Curriculum.

The list of signees will be updated every day at 10pm.

The Letter

To:
Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Raymond Caldwell, Director of Curriculum and Assessment, Department of Education.

Dear Sirs,

As a collection of teaching staff, classroom assistants and support staff we are writing to you in joint opposition against the plans to change how Relationships and Sexuality Education is taught in Northern Ireland.

While the Secretary of State has legislated for an opt out to be provided for pupils we are concerned that no such requirement was made in law for school staff. Having reviewed the materials contained in CCEA's Progression Framework, which the Secretary of State has already indicated will form the basis of the new RSE Curriculum, we can confirm that we cannot, due to our own moral convictions, participate in the delivery of much of the content it contains.

Furthermore, we believe that it is wholly inappropriate for pupils in Key Stage 3 and 4 to be taught how to access abortion. We are alarmed that CCEA is currently in the process of creating these materials even though a public consultation on the new curriculum has not yet been launched.

As school staff we care deeply about our pupils and their welfare and go above and beyond what is expected of us to ensure that our pupils leave school as successful, well rounded individuals who are equipped to reach their full potential in their life beyond school. We, therefore, demand that an opt out provision be provided for all school staff to ensure that they will not be required to participate in the creation or delivery of content that they feel goes against their moral convictions and will be damaging to the young people they care so deeply about.

Should no opt out provision be provided we affirm that we will refuse to comply with any instruction to prepare or deliver RSE lessons that go against our personal moral convictions.

Yours Sincerely,

The undersigned.

Sign now

Fill in the form below to take a stand for your profession and for your pupils. The list of signees will be updated every day at 10pm.

Signees (Updated at 10pm every day)

W Russell - Primary - Teaching Staff
W Jordan - Primary - Teaching Staff
W Graham - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
W Baxter - Post Primary - Support Staff
W Annett - Primary - Vice Principal
V Y - Primary - Teaching Staff
V Parkes - Primary - Teaching Staff
V Kerr - Primary - Classroom Assistant
V Hall - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
V Dawson - Primary - Principal
T Montgomery - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
T McAllister - Post Primary - Support Staff
T Crawford - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
T Campbell - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Wilson - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Wilson - Primary - Support Staff
S Tully - Primary - Vice Principal
S Swan - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Stewart - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Stewart - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Parke - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Morrow - Primary - Teaching Staff
S McKee - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S McCullough - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S McCready - Primary - Teaching Staff
S McConaghie - Primary - Teaching Staff
S McAteer - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S McAdam - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S Kirwan - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Houston - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S Hodgins - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S Henderson - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Hazard - Special School - Teaching Staff
S Harkin - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Graham - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Elliott - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Cuddy - Primary - Vice Principal
S Crooks - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Crooks - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Creane - Primary - Teaching Staff
S Craig - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S Corry - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Collier - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S Cassidy - Primary - Classroom Assistant
S Andrews - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
S Aicken - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Witherow - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Watt - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Thompson - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Stewart - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Stewart - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Simms - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Shaw - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Scott - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Poots - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Morrow - Primary - Support Staff
R Mhic Niocaill - Primary - Teaching Staff
R McMinn - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R McKeown - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R McGlone - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R McCosh - Primary - Teaching Staff
R McAuley - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Lowe - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Liggett - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Irwin - Post Primary - Support Staff
R Hunter - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Heyburn - Primary - Vice Principal
R Henry - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Henderson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Heddles - Post Primary - Support Staff
R Gardiner - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Frizzell - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Eccles - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Duncan - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Cunningham - Primary - Teaching Staff
R Cuddy - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Crooks - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
R Boyes - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Bell - Further Education - Teaching Staff
R Armstrong - Primary - Classroom Assistant
R Agnew - Primary - Teaching Staff
P Weir - Primary - Classroom Assistant
P Weir - Primary - Classroom Assistant
P Thompson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
P Graham - Primary - Support Staff
P Graham - Primary - Principal
P Gordon - Further Education - Support Staff
P Gaston - Primary - Classroom Assistant
P Agnew - Primary - Support Staff
O Collins - Primary - Principal
N Moore - Primary - Teaching Staff
N McStea - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
N McQuitty - Primary - Teaching Staff
N McKinty - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
N Johnston - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
N Gould - Primary - Classroom Assistant
N Cromie-Ryan - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
N Bell - Primary - Classroom Assistant
M Stewart - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Peacock - Primary - Principal
M May - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Logue - Primary - Support Staff
M Lambe - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Grier - Special School - Classroom Assistant
M Grier - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
M Glenn - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Fleming - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Emerson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Duffin - Primary - Principal
M Collins - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Clements - Primary - Classroom Assistant
M Carr - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
M Burns - Primary - Classroom Assistant
M Brown - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Woods - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
L Stewart - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Sterritt - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Simpson prescott - Primary - Support Staff
L Park - Post Primary - Support Staff
L Orr - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Morton - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Moore - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Mooney - Primary - Teaching Staff
L McKinney - Primary - Teaching Staff
L McKee - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L McFarlane - Primary - Teaching Staff
L McEvoy - Primary - Teaching Staff
L McConville - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L McConaghie - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
L McCann - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Legge - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Kelso - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Kelly - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Johnston - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Johnston - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Henry - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
L Hazley - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Hanna - Primary - Teaching Staff
L HANNA - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Haddock - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Greer - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Galloway - Primary - Principal
L Doran - Primary - Classroom Assistant
L Doogan - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
L Briggs - Primary - Teaching Staff
L Beattie - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
K Wylie - Primary - Teaching Staff
K Wylie - Primary - Classroom Assistant
K Taylor - Primary - Vice Principal
K Speers - Primary - Classroom Assistant
K Smyth - Primary - Classroom Assistant
K Mulligan - Primary - Teaching Staff
K Mcshane - Primary - Principal
K Lombard - Special School - Classroom Assistant
K Lee - Primary - Teaching Staff
K Kerr - Primary - Teaching Staff
K Henry - Primary - Teaching Staff
K Gribben - Primary - Teaching Staff
K Blackwell - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
K Beggs - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
K Ball - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
K Allen - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Wylie - Primary - Support Staff
J White - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Vancr - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Thompson - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Thompson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Taggart - Primary - Support Staff
J Smyth - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Seargent - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Roderick - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Reid - Primary - Support Staff
J Peters - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Peoples - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Patterson - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Orr - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Orr - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Officer - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J O connor - Primary - Teaching Staff
J O connor - Primary - Support Staff
J Newell - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Neill - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Murdock - Special School - Teaching Staff
J Mullan - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Morris - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Montgomery - Primary - Support Staff
J Moles - Further Education - Teaching Staff
J McLeister - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Mckeown - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J McCormick - Primary - Teaching Staff
J McConkey - Primary - Vice Principal
J McAlpine - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Mawhinney - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Lyttle - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Harris - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Hall - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Greer - Special School - Teaching Staff
J Greer - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Gowdy - Post Primary - Support Staff
J Girvan - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Gillespie - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Gamble - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Douglas - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Doran - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Denniss - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Davidson - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Dallas - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Crabbe - Primary - Vice Principal
J Cousins - Primary - Vice Principal
J Cousins - Primary - Principal
J Carson - Primary - Classroom Assistant
J Cameron - Primary - Support Staff
J Cairns - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Brown - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Bradley - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
J Barkley - Primary - Teaching Staff
J Austin - Post Primary - Support Staff
J Andrews - Further Education - Teaching Staff
J Anderson - Primary - Teaching Staff
I Patterson - Primary - Teaching Staff
I Mills - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Parks - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
H Nelson - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Neill - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Michael - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Magill - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Logan - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
H King - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Kelly - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
H Jamison - Special School - Classroom Assistant
H Glasgow - Primary - Support Staff
H Gibson - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Cardwell - Primary - Teaching Staff
H Campbell - Primary - Classroom Assistant
H Blair - Primary - Classroom Assistant
H Annett - Primary - Teaching Staff
G Wray - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
G Wishart - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
G Nicholson - Primary - Classroom Assistant
G Morris - Primary - Teaching Staff
G Jennings - Primary - Classroom Assistant
G Hanna - Primary - Classroom Assistant
G Cuthbertson - Primary - Principal
G Black - Primary - Classroom Assistant
G Anderson - Post Primary - Principal
F Parks - Primary - Classroom Assistant
F Mcnamara - Primary - Teaching Staff
F McConaghie - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
F McAuley - Primary - Teaching Staff
F Martin - Primary - Teaching Staff
F Macdonald - Primary - Teaching Staff
F Kennedy - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
F Henning - Primary - Classroom Assistant
F Campbell - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
E Wills - Primary - Teaching Staff
E Turner - Primary - Support Staff
E Sweeney - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
E McGeary - Further Education - Teaching Staff
E Mcevoy - Primary - Classroom Assistant
E Marks - Further Education - Support Staff
E Liggett - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
E Kerr - Primary - Teaching Staff
E Jones - Primary - Classroom Assistant
E Johnston - Primary - Teaching Staff
E Johnston - Primary - Classroom Assistant
E Greer - Primary - Classroom Assistant
E Gass - Primary - Teaching Staff
E Elliott - Primary - Teaching Staff
E Devlin - Primary - Teaching Staff
E Clarke - Primary - Classroom Assistant
E Beggs - Post Primary - Support Staff
D Morris - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
D McNabney - Special School - Teaching Staff
D McLeister - Primary - Classroom Assistant
D McKee - Post Primary - Support Staff
D McKean - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
D Mccullough - Primary - Teaching Staff
D Mcculloch - Primary - Support Staff
D McCracken - Primary - Teaching Staff
D Kayes - Primary - Vice Principal
D Kavanagh - Primary - Teaching Staff
D Johnston - Primary - Classroom Assistant
D Graham - Primary - Principal
D Clarke - Primary - Principal
D Armstrong - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Wright - Primary - Classroom Assistant
C Wilson - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Wasson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
C Vallely - Primary - Teaching Staff
C SLAINE - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
C Salt - Primary - Classroom Assistant
C Morrow - Primary - Support Staff
C McKnight - Primary - Teaching Staff
C McKeown - Primary - Classroom Assistant
C MCKEE - Primary - Support Staff
C McGuigan - Primary - Teaching Staff
C McGowan - Special School - Classroom Assistant
C McDowell - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Kennedy - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
C Graham - Special School - Classroom Assistant
C Graham - Primary - Classroom Assistant
C Gormley - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Gordon - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Gibson - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Fyffe - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Fulton - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Fulton - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Dunlop - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Duffin - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Donnelly - Primary - Teaching Staff
C D - Post Primary - Vice Principal
C Coffey - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Cherry - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
C Campbell - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Campbell - Primary - Support Staff
C Black - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Bartley - Primary - Teaching Staff
C BARR - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Anderson - Primary - Teaching Staff
C Alexander - Primary - Teaching Staff
B Wilson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
B O'Neill - Primary - Support Staff
B Murray - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
B Gormley - Further Education - Support Staff
A Watterson - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Vennard - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Thompson - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Stewart - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Stevenson - Special School - Teaching Staff
A Stevenson - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Sergeant - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A S - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Noble - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Nixon - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Murdock - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Morren - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A McKeown - Primary - Support Staff
A McKelvey - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Mcconnell - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Mccallion - Primary - Principal
A McCallion - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Mauger - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Mannion - Primary - Support Staff
A M - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Langseth - Primary - Principal
A Laird - Further Education - Teaching Staff
A Keenan - Primary - Support Staff
A Johnston - Post Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Irwin - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Hargie - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Graham - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Gibson - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Gaston - Primary - Principal
A Francis - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Dillon - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Dawson - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Cunningham - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Cracknell - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Clarke - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Chestnutt - Post Primary - Teaching Staff
A Boyd - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Berry - Primary - Teaching Staff
A Arnold - Primary - Classroom Assistant
A Archer - Primary - Vice Principal