Does Religion Have a Place in Sex Education?

MPs have backed a government move to allow sex education to be taught in England in a way that "reflects" a school's "religious character".

The amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill was passed by a majority of 345 in the Commons.

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Opponents had said ministers showed "cowardice" by making the amendment in the face of religious groups' lobbying.

The government insisted there had been no "watering down" of plans to make all schools teach the biology of sex.

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The "religious character" amendment to the bill was passed without debate due to a lack of parliamentary time.

The change follows what the Catholic Education Service claimed had been a period of "extensive lobbying".

Opponents of the amendment have argued it could allow faith schools to teach sex and relationships educations in ways that are homophobic, gender discriminatory and in violation of principles of human rights.

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said the government had "once more bowed to pressure from the Catholic Church, betraying the children in faith schools who have a right to objective and balanced sex education".