CHRISTIAN teachers in North-East faith schools could face disciplinary action over a controversial new rule on sexuality, a religious charity claims today.

The Christian Institute, a charity based in Newcastle, has raised "grave concerns" over regulations which require teachers to "fully respect differences of sexual orientation".

The General Teaching Council (GTC), the regulator for the teaching profession, has caused the protest over paragraph five of a draft professional code it is producing.

The charity says teachers who are "genuinely seeking to follow their own conscience and beliefs" could have disciplinary measures taken against them if local education authorities and governing bodies decide to enforce the code.

After taking legal advice from leading human rights barrister John Bowers QC, members fear it could be taken into account when deciding on whether to sack teachers.

Colin Hart, the charity's director, said: "The GTC must recognise that their code has legal status. Employers, in taking disciplinary action against teachers, will inevitably use it."

The code states that teachers should "...fully respect differences of gender, marital status, religion, colour, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability".

Dr Jim Whiston, a spokesman for the diocese of Middlesbrough, said he was not convinced teachers would be disciplined, but said: "We would object most strongly to this because the Bishop of this diocese (the Right Reverend John Crowley) specifies what is taught in his schools in religious education.

"We teach the importance of marriage and we teach the fact that homosexual practice, like all sexual activity outside marriage, is morally wrong.

"We note this code and, obviously, we will be seeking to influence that code to make sure our views are heard."

Maureen Burns, head of policy and communications with the GTC said: "Every teacher works within a legal framework in school and that is to keep children safe from any form of discrimination.

"It's not to do with their beliefs or their individually-held deep religious conviction that they are entitled to. It's to do with making sure that children in schools don't get bullied."

The code will be formalised in February.