Burwood girls high did not receive a single complaint from parents of students at the school regarding its plan to screen a documentary on gay parenting, Guardian Australia can reveal.

The New South Wales Department of Education has confirmed that no parents had objected to the showing of Gayby Baby during class time – plans that have now been shelved across the state on the orders of the education minister, Adrian Piccoli.

“The school has not received any complaints from Burwood girls high school parents,” the department said in a statement.

After the plans made front-page news in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, Piccoli said on Wednesday the film, part of the Wear it Purple Day campaign aimed at supporting LBTGIQ students, would need to be shown outside school hours.

“During school hours we expect them to be doing maths and English and curriculum matters,” Piccoli told 2GB Radio. “This movie is not part of the curriculum and that’s why I’ve made that direction.”

Gayby Baby, directed by Maya Newell, an alumnus of the school, follows four children with gay parents and highlights the obstacles they face in Australia and overseas.



One of the best things about the school is it teaches people to respect other people Cathy Sefton, parent

The Daily Telegraph claimed there had been “a backlash from parents”.

The story was accompanied by a comment piece headlined “Gay push should be kept out of schools”.

The piece, by Piers Akerman, directly addressed a 12-year-old girl who confessed in the film she often worried if she was “normal”.

“Statistically, you are not in a ‘normal’ family, no matter how many LGBTIQ-friendly docos you may be forced to watch by politically driven school principals,” he wrote.

Akerman also claimed the school had received “numerous complaints”.

Cath Sefton, whose daughter attends the school, described the episode as a “total beatup”. “What the school is doing as part of Wear it Purple Day ... actually has nothing to do with gay marriage,” she said. “It’s about respect for diversity, about people who are different from you.

“One of the best things about the school is is teaches people to respect other people. It’s been going on for several years and suddenly it’s hit the headlines.”

The official trailer for Gayby Baby

Another parent of a Burwood student, Kerry, said she was “really supportive” of the school’s participation in Wear it Purple Day, including the screening.

“I think it’s a wonderful initiative for kids who are trying to figure out who they are to have more of an avenue to explore themselves and the world,” she said.



Nor was she concerned that the film was being screened during school hours, pointing out the school had been visited during class time on Monday by the foreign minister, Julie Bishop. “She wasn’t there to talk about politics, she was there to talk as a woman, to young women,” she said.

“If they gave up time to hear from Julie Bishop, I’d be delighted for them to give up time to see this film too.”

Newell, whose film opens in theatres early next month, told Guardian Australia the controversy was “quite upsetting and disappointing”.

“Once again on the front page of the newspaper we’ve got all sorts of messaging going out to families and kids saying, ‘You know what, your family isn’t good enough, your parents aren’t good enough,’ ” she said.

Mike Baird, the NSW premier, agreed that Gayby Baby should not be shown in class time. Photograph: David Moir/AAP

“The film is so innocent. It’s actually much more about four kids who are traversing oncoming puberty, who are dealing with the trials and tribulations of growing up. The fact they have gay parents is really minor.”

A small number of schools planning to show the film during class were also ordered not do so on Wednesday, “so that it does not impact on the delivery of the planned lessons of the day”, the department said.



It said a screening could be considered “ if it is an integral part of the planned curriculum for an age-appropriate year group”.

The NSW premier, Mike Baird, agreed the film should not be shown during class. “I understand the intent of that is to provide an example of tolerance and that’s something I absolutely support,” he said.



“Should it be in class time? No, I don’t think so. Should it be optional? Yes, I do think so.”

The NSW Greens spokeswoman on sexuality and gender identity, Jenny Leong, said she was “disgusted” Piccoli had “caved in to a trashy and offensive headline by the Daily Telegraph”.

Another parent, Genevieve, said parents were clearly advised they “had every opportunity to stop our children seeing it”.

“It’s PG-rated, and from what I understand it’s about families and parents and there’s nothing overtly sexual about, or offensive.”



She said she was happy for her daughter to see the film in class. “That’s exactly where they should be learning stuff like this,” she said.