Pupils aged TEN are excluded for ‘homophobia’

A PRIMARY school has been accused of persecuting two Christian children who were suspended for allegedly making homophobic comments.

Kaysey Francis-Austin and Farrell Spence, both ten, were excluded for five days from Heavers Farm Primary School in South Norwood, South London, after they were overheard making the alleged remarks. Both pupils deny the claims.

The controversy erupted during a religious education lesson where pupils were discussing their participation in an LGBT Pride march the school had organised. Kaysey and Farrell told their parents they were saying they did not want to take part when their conversation was overheard by an unnamed woman observing the lesson.

In letters to their parents, headteacher Susan Papas said the woman claimed that Kaysey said gay people ‘have let the devil into them and they need to be killed’, while Farrell allegedly said gay people needed to ‘die or go to prison’ where they would be ‘shanked’ – slang for stabbed.

Kaysey, a Pentecostal Christian, and Farrell, who is Catholic, say they were trying to explain how gay people would be ‘punished’ in some countries but their point was misunderstood. The school has refused to reveal the name of the woman involved or even confirm if she is a teacher.

Kaysey denied being homophobic and said: ‘I’m just against putting LGBT topics in schools and teaching it to children.’ The school has been accused by some parents of having an ‘aggressive’ LGBT agenda. In June 2018, a group threatened to protest after the school organised a Proud To Be Me parade for its 750 pupils to coincide with LGBT Pride Month.

Kaysey’s mother Karen said: ‘The school is persecuting us for wanting to maintain our Bible beliefs.’

The school said: ‘We will not tolerate any violence, or the threat of it, against any members of our community. We will always take necessary steps to protect our pupils, staff and visitors.’