Overview
- Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott wrote to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urging the Government to instruct councils to pull the guidance.
- The document says some Muslims consider three‑dimensional human imagery idolatrous and tells schools not to ask pupils to depict figures such as Jesus or the Prophet Mohammed.
- It notes differing views on music within Islam and advises against requiring pupils to join songs that conflict with their beliefs, without calling for music to be removed from lessons.
- Guidance for drama, dance and PE warns against roles that may compromise a pupil’s faith and highlights concerns about mixed‑sex physical contact or performances viewed as immodest.
- First produced in 2022 by Leeds, Calderdale, Oldham and Wakefield and later circulated to areas including Kirklees, Tameside and Sefton, the advice is framed by councils as fostering cohesion, is criticized as imposing doctrine, and does not reflect any national curriculum change.