School At Heart Of LGBT Equality Lessons Row To Close Early Over Safety Fears

23 May 2019, 18:34 | Updated: 23 May 2019, 18:50

Parents have been protesting outside the school for several weeks.
Parents have been protesting outside the school for several weeks. Picture: PA

A Birmingham primary school at the heart of parent protests against LGBT equality lessons will close early on Friday over safety fears due to a planned demonstration.

Anderton Park Primary will close at lunchtime following a decision taken by the school's headteacher and city council officials.

The move comes after weeks of demonstrations outside the gates of the school by parents who do not support the teaching of LGBT equality lessons.

Welcoming the "extremely difficult decision" to close early, Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward said the first priority is the safety of pupils, families and staff, as protests had "escalated significantly" over the past week.

On Tuesday, West Midlands Police Chief Constable David Thompson called for a halt to protests, and for fresh talks between school leaders and some parents who have objected to elements of Anderton Park's relationship education.

The area's Police and Crime Commissioner supports the move, David Jamieson said: "In light of the escalating protests, I support the school's difficult decision to close early on Friday.

"These protests are having a major impact on children and staff and need to stop.

"Teachers should be free to get on with teaching a full curriculum, that highlights and explains Britain's full diversity, without fear of protests or threats."

The main organiser of the protests is Shakeel Afsar.

Mr Afsar's children do not go to the school, but his niece and nephew do.

The situation has been on-going at several schools in the region with the Anderton Park School seeing almost daily protests at the gates at home time, led by Shakeel Afsar.

Mr Afsar claimed to have the backing of nearly 300 parents who, like him, want the school to suspend LGBT books and discussions, which he says offend most of the school's mainly Muslim parents.

Mr Afsar has claimed demonstrations are continuing because the school is using "children as pawns" by teaching LGBT equality which are "over-emphasising a gay ethos".

He has rejected allegations the protests are homophobic, claiming the school should respect the protesters' "moral beliefs".

In early May, he was given a legal warning by the council not to interfere with the school's operation, but he has continued to attend demonstrations.

He has also questioned the legality of the council's notice.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Doctor working with medical imaging and technology to provide accurate diagnosis.

New study reveals the childhood cancers which take the longest to diagnose

A Jewish boy has been hospitalised after a ‘racially motivated attack’ in Hampstead, a charity has said.

Jewish boy hospitalised after ‘racially motivated attack’ in Hampstead, north London

Palestinians carry boxes containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Hamas tells Gazans facing food shortages to stay away from US-linked aid deliveries

The Harvard University logo is displayed on a building at the school, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass.

Germany offers ‘exile campus’ to Harvard students after foreigner ban

Water St the morning after the tragic events just after the LFC trophy parade when a car was driven into the crowd injuring at least 50 people

Liverpool crash victim ‘pleaded with driver to stop’ before car mowed him down as motorist arrested for attempted murder

One in ten women say they have been spat on while running, a new study reveals.

'Hurtful and traumatising': Rise in men 'spitting' on women runners in disturbing new form of street harassment

Gayanne Potter told LBC she feels "absolutely sick".

Leading voiceover artist ‘violated’ by ScotRail AI announcements using her voice without 'permission'

The popular club's licence has been suspended following allegations that a woman was raped by a security guard in the vicinity of the venue

Heaven security guard accused of raping teenager was 'not permitted to work in UK' and 'used false ID to get job'

RFK Jr said that Covid-19 shots would be removed from the recommendations for certain groups.

Robert F Kennedy Jr drops Covid vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women - slamming lack of 'clinical data'

Rebecca Turner, 36, was found dead in Bangkok with her partner, Sam Melnick, in 2024.

Mother of British woman found dead in Bangkok hotel after 'unwitting hit of drugs' alleges Thai police ‘cover-up’

Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout will star as Hermione, Harry and Ron in the new Harry Potter TV series.

Harry Potter and the new cast revealed: First pic of child stars ahead of TV series

Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (posing with former footballer Alan Hansen and the Premier League trophy) sent a message of support to victims of the crash

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk ‘praying for speedy recovery’ for those hurt in parade crash

(Clockwise from top left) Indigo Rumbelow, Leanorah Ward, Daniel Knorr and Margaret Reid

Four Just Stop Oil activists jailed over plot to disrupt Manchester Airport

The runaway couple went off-grid in early 2023 in an alleged attempt to stop their newborn baby being removed from their care.

Runaway aristocrat Constance Marten’s partner 'attacked' officers on post-natal ward while trying to 'escape'

Footage shows the driver reverse into a fan, which leads two spectators to punch and kick the car whilst it moves back and forth

Driver ‘followed ambulance through roadblock’ before Liverpool crash as man, 53, arrested on suspicion of ‘drug driving’

Footage shows the driver reverse into a fan, which leads two spectators to punch and kick the car whilst it moves back and forth

Moment Liverpool horror begins to unfold after driver 'tailgated ambulance'