Headteachers (In Scotland) Attitudes To Section 28

Technical details

MORI Scotland interviewed 150 headteachers of state secondary schools across Scotland. Interviews were conducted by telephone on 20-21 January 2000.

As you will be aware, the Scottish Executive is currently reviewing Section 28, the law which limits the scope for schools to include discussion about homosexuality in sex education classes.

Q1 On balance, do you support or oppose the repeal of Section 28? (By repeal, we mean abolish)

Support repeal	56%
Oppose repeal	29%
Undecided	10%
No opinion / refused	5%

Q2 The leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Thomas Winning, is reported as describing homosexuality as a perversion. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view?

Agree	15%
Disagree	69%
No opinion / refused	16%

Q3 How often, if ever, have you or members of your staff had to deal with incidents of homosexual bullying in the school?

Never	57%
Once only	17%
Twice or more	20%
Don't know	6%

Q4 Do you feel that your school would benefit from clearer guidelines on how to deal with the subject of homosexuality, or do you feel you have sufficient guidelines already?

Benefit from more	47%
Have sufficient already	52%
Don't know / no opinion	1%