A five-year-old boy was picked on and given a three hour detention when his Christian parents tried to get him excused from the school’s ‘pride’ parade, a court heard today.
Izzy Montague, 38, wrote to Heaver’s Farm Primary School in Norwood, southeast London, requesting her son be removed from the event in June 2018, as it went against her Christian beliefs.
The invitation stated the school would be ‘celebrating the differences that make you and your child’s family special.’
The school denied the request which prompted Ms Montague to write a ‘lengthy email’ complaining against the headteacher Susan Papas.
Izzy Montague (pictured), 38, wrote to Heaver’s Farm Primary School in Norwood, southeast London, requesting her son be removed from the LGBT event in June 2018
Pictured: Heavers Farm Primary School ( CC 3.0 , courtesy of Pafcool2 ) where headteacher Ms Susan Papas told Mrs Montague that her son had to attend the lesson
Mrs Montague has previously appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, where she sparked controversy after telling a gay father his sexuality ‘is a choice’ during debate on LGBT lessons in schools
Giving evidence today Mrs Montague’s husband, Shane Montague, told the court he did not think it was ‘the school’s job’ to teach children about same sex families.
Ian Clarke, representing the school, asked him: ‘Given the existence of pupils from same sex families at the school, is it sensible and right that the school acknowledges that fact to the children?’
‘Not at four years old,’ replied Mr Montague.
‘At any age?’ asked Mr Clarke.
‘Well, they will get to know about it at a later age but not at four years old,’ said Mr Montague.
‘But say a child from reception has a same sex family, that child is going to mention that fact to their friends… is it sensible for the school to address that before the potential for any bullying comes up?’ asked Mr Clarke
‘I’m not sure if that’s their job or not,’ replied Mr Montague.
Izzy Montague has previously appeared on ITV to argue that teaching LGBT issues is wrong. She said it should be her choice whether to teach her children about LGBT
The parents also claim that after they issued their complaint, their son was ‘picked on’ by members of staff.
‘On 8 October (2018), your son gets a detention, and you say it was ‘totally out of character’ because he is ordinarily well behaved and hadn’t been in detention before,’ said Mr Clarke.
‘Well, there is a difference isn’t there in that your son had been in reception before then so he’s moved up into the main school, into the next age group up, yes?’
‘Yep,’ said Mr Montague.
‘And you use of the word ‘ordinarily’ well behaved, I take that as, of course a five-year-old isn’t always well behaved,’ said Mr Clarke.
‘Not in the level of spitting in someone’s face or throwing pencils,’ said Mr Montague.
‘Not at home?’ asked the barrister.
‘No, all children misbehave, but not like that,’ said the father.
‘And you agree when a child misbehaved at school the school is entitled and must address those issues…your son misbehaves and gets sent to leadership room, you accept that?’ asked Mr Clarke.
‘No I don’t accept that and I don’t accept that they kept him there for over three hours and that he has another detention the following day,’ said Mr Montague.
Mr Clarke said: ‘You say that your son has been picked on because you and your wife complained about LGBTG event yes?’
‘Yes,’ replied Mr Montague.
Mrs Montague, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, is suing the school on the grounds of direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation and breach of statutory duty under the Education Act 1996 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
It is the first time that a UK court will scrutinise the legality of imposing LGBT ideology on primary schools.
The hearing continues.
