30 schools across the UK are using textbooks which teach that AIDS can be avoided through religion, and that homosexuality is a choice.

The US-based Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum currently lists over 30 participant UK schools on its website, with the majority being private Christian schools.

Pupils on the course do not study for GCSEs or A-Levels, and instead work to attain a International Christian Certificate of Education.

A textbook used as part of the course teaches that homosexuality is a choice, evolution is a lie, abortion is wrong, and AIDS can be avoided by following the Bible.

It states: “Homosexuals engage in sexual activity with their own sex. The Bible records that God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexual activity.

“Some people mistakenly believe that an individual is born a homosexual and his attraction to those of the same sex is normal.

“Because extensive tests have shown that there is no biological difference between homosexuals and others, these tests seem to prove that homosexuality is a learned behaviour.

“The Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin. In Old Testament times, God commanded that homosexuals be put to death.

“Since God never commanded death for normal or acceptable actions, it is as unreasonable to say that homosexuality is normal as it is to say that murder or stealing is normal.”

Headteacher Brenda Lewis, of ACE King of Kings School in Manchester, said: “The textbooks in isolation only show a very small part of a very large curriculum. It’s a starting point not a finishing point.

“As Christians we believe the Bible and we believe what the Bible says, and it does say a number of those things, but we are not single-issue people and we teach our students to think for themselves and realise there are a vast number of issues.”

Dr Greg Hibbins, of Christian Education Europe, said: “The users of our curriculum are independent and have the choice to adapt and manage the content as they choose.”

“The curriculum is therefore only part of the educational experience of the child and must be informed by the teacher/parent as they choose to interpret and apply the curriculum in a way that reflects their individual learning outcomes, value system and free choice.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “All independent schools — including those run by Christian Education Europe — must ensure that pupils are taught respect for others of different cultures and beliefs.”