Minister is blasted after 'U-turn' over sex education

Mr Balls, the MP for Normanton, insisted there had been no “watering down” of the Children, Schools and Families Bill as his controversial amendment was passed by MPs.

But the move was condemned by teaching unions while the National Secular Society claimed the Government had “betrayed” children in faith schools.

The amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill was passed without debate due to a lack of time at report stage.

It allows faith schools to teach personal, social, health and economic lessons “in a way that reflects the school’s religious character”.

The measure was part of a group of Government amendments to the Bill passed by 386 votes to 41, a majority of 345.

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

National Secular Society executive director Keith Porteous Wood said: “The Government have 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. This cowardice will blight many lives.”

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Balls said the Bill was “a major step forward” in requiring all schools not only to teach children about the biology of sex but also about relationships, and in lowering the maximum age for parents to keep their children out of sex education classes from 19 to 15.

He said: “There is no watering down of what is actually an overdue change. There is no opt-out for any faith school from teaching the full, broad, balanced curriculum on sex and relationship education and that is a huge step forward.”