Ofsted has defended asking pupils if they call each other 'gay' or 'lesbo'

Labour would also make sex education compulsory in all schools

Primary and secondary school staff to be trained on homophobic bullying

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, pictured today, warned the use of homophobic language is 'damaging the life chances of so many young people' as he launched a plan for compulsory sex education

Children aged five will have sex education classes if Labour wins the election.

Tristram Hunt said yesterday the subject would go on the primary school curriculum to tackle homophobic bullying.

The lessons are currently given only to children of secondary school age.

Labour sources said Mr Hunt, who is the party’s education spokesman, wanted ‘age appropriate’ teaching about sex and relationships to begin in key stage one, when pupils are aged five to seven.

They claimed the move would also help tackle the problems of domestic violence and rape in later life.

But campaigners warned against sacrificing childhood innocence for the sake of political correctness.

Margaret Morrissey of Parents Outloud said: ‘We need to let children be children, particularly at key stage one, when many are still not very mature and may find this kind of material confusing and quite scary.

‘Are we really saying that at the age of five, children have to put their childhood behind them and learn about all the things adults have to deal with?

That is not what parents want. I understand that politicians are looking for eye-catching ideas to win the election, but I would say to them, please don’t sacrifice our children’s innocence.’

Simon Calvert of Christian Concern said the explicit material already used in schools would shock many parents.

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He added: ‘We are all concerned about the sexualisation of young people, particularly with the influence of the internet and social media but Labour have landed on the wrong solution.

‘For three decades the cry has been that we must have more sex education, of a more explicit nature, at an ever younger age – and look where it has got us.

‘We should end the defeatism that says children will inevitably be exposed to pornography and engage in sexual activity and therefore have to be equipped to deal with it. It is a counsel of despair.’

Mr Hunt (centre left) and actor Charlie Condou (centre right) today met with pupils during a visit to Little Ilford School, London

Parents are able to withdraw children from sex education lessons apart from those that are part of the core science curriculum.

Primary schools are required to have a policy on the subject and most do provide lessons in the later years.

But under Labour’s plans, all state-funded schools would be required to provide sex and relationships classes. Academies and free schools would lose their right to opt out.

Sex education lessons are currently only given to secondary school age children but could be extended to younger pupils (file picture)

And the right for parents to withdraw a child from classes would end when they reach 15.

Labour abandoned similar plans shortly before the 2010 election amid opposition from the Conservatives and some parents.

Their attempt to revive the issue in 2013 was defeated in the Commons.

Seema Malhotra, the party’s spokesman on preventing violence against women and girls, said: ‘One of the biggest messages I get from young people is that they are totally unprepared for what is coming their way.

‘We need to teach young people the importance of consent, to explain what a good relationship looks like and to promote zero tolerance towards violence in relationships.

‘There needs to be an intervention at a very young age to get the principles of good relationships and self-esteem in place. Some parents do this well, but not all – we need to equalise that.’

Launching the proposals at a school in Ilford, east London, Mr Hunt said: ‘The presence of homophobic bullying in our classrooms, playgrounds and dinner halls is deeply troubling, and it is very real.

‘The use of homophobic language and other forms of homophobic bullying is damaging the life chances of so many young people. It has a daily effect that limits learning, and causes people long-term damage.’

The plan was backed by gay actor Charlie Condou – who played gay midwife Marcus Dent in Coronation Street. Mr Condou said he wanted schools to be a place where all children can ‘feel safe, to be nurtured and cared for’.

But Tory MP Philip Davies said Labour’s plans were completely unacceptable: ‘It’s taking childhood away from kids. My kids are 11 and 9 and I don’t like the idea of them having sex education, let alone at age five.

‘It’s completely unnecessary at that age, at primary school, sex education should be the preserve of parents, not teachers and it certainly shouldn’t be compulsory.’

The Labour move came as inspectors from schools watchdog Ofsted face criticism for quizzing pupils about their knowledge of sexuality and the words they use.

Inspectors have been internally briefed that they can quiz pupils aged four to 11 about the word ‘gay’ and same-sex families, it emerged this week. They have been told to ask young children if classmates are ever picked on for not behaving like a ‘typical girl’ or a ‘typical boy’.

And since 2013 Ofsted briefings have also urged inspectors to tackle ‘transphobic’ bullying, by asking primary children if they think someone ‘born a girl who would rather be a boy, or born a boy who would like to be a girl’ would feel safe at their school.