Should I complain to the school?

Excellent. The only 2 things I would change is take out the word moaning at the end. You're not moaning you're pointing out a deficiency they should be delighted to know about.

And I would replace this:

I apologise if this seems like a storm in a teacup,

With something like:

it's a shame these things are perceived as an unimportant, but...

Do not apologise. You can acknowledge how these things might be seen as trivial, without ever buying in to that viewpoint.

Your reply is excellent. I wouldn't be able to resist including:

I'm surprised and saddened to hear that you were unable to find any women at all who were born or strongly associated with who became famous in their own way.

Do they have class names yet? Might a compromise be to name the year groups after women and the houses after men. Sadly that would end up with 7 women against 4 men .

Very good, you might also mention that girls' self esteem peaks at aged 9. And maybe suggest that if there are no women to be found to fit the category then surely a different category (you might suggest one) should be thought of.

I think it's great but I would tweak the last paragraph; I really don't think it's too late to change the house names.

I applaud that. The only thing I might add is the suggestion upthread that girls and boys have different house names.

I will have a ponder about the criteria sentence. Perhaps something like:

If the criteria of being county-based didn't provide suitable women, it might be more inclusive to change the criteria rather than end up with an entirely male shortlist.

I think it's great but would be even better with a couple of suggestions of suitable local women. Can Google help?

Well done though. The final paragraph is particularly good

I too think you've done a great job OP. You sound rational and logical (whilst remaining inwardly infuriated).

And I may be wrong, but this could really work to your advantage. If you can get them to spend time and resources investing in the achievements of women, you have made a brilliant mark.

I think you have been fantastic to tackle it. And this stuff DOES matter.

I wrote to my DD's teacher this week pointing out the incorrect use of the word vagina (instead of vulva) in SRE and have been fobbed off. Trying to decide what to do next.

Well done junerat, but how frustrating.

I almost worry more about the impact this sort of thing has on the boys. It's shit for the girls, but the message it sends to boys is even more insidious.

I definitely would follow up, even if it is in the knowledge that nothing might change.

I would stress that this is an opportunity to ensure gender equality is properly considered in all future decisions, whether curriculum-related, or not.

And yes, good thing you didn't post this in chat - you'd have been told you were 'over thinking' it, by the perennial under-thinkers!

May I suggest Dorothy Hodgkin - I can never quite understand why people remember poor Rosalind Franklin, cheated out of her Nobel by death (and had she lived, quite possibly by sexism) but forget the woman who did get a Nobel in the same field and had a long and successful career, inspiring many other female scientists (well, and men too).

The reply is a let down.
It says they can bend the rules for a man
And we will be studying the national curriculum (every school does Flo and Mary)

It's fantastic you challenged this and are thinking of how to tackle it going forward junerat. I think the idea of suggesting pupils study some inspiring women, local and beyond, would be a good one given they're unlikely to change the house names now (not that I think they've given acceptable reasons). It would be something if this could be used as an opportunity to study women who've excelled in fields beyond those often known of - Ada Lovelace, Hedy Lemarr, Rosalind Franklin, Amy Johnson, Eileen Nearne and many others.

TooDamnSarky it's reassuring to hear of the governing body at the school you're a governor at and thanks for the link on Florence Nightingale!

Would it be an option to have two names per colour? Like Boys Red is called XYZ and Girls Red is called ? That's what they did at my school (well, all the names were men, but house names for boys and girls were different).

Why not suggest that a great school project would be to research important local women? The children could then choose the house names (from a vetted list of options to avoid Boaty McBoatface or them choosing a serial killer ).

Bollocks is exactly the word I was going to use too. He specifically said he wanted to use less well known figures who were born in the county, then justified including a man born outside the county on the grounds that he's very famous! Er...

sorry., missed page 2.

That reply is bollocks.

Please follow it up.
So, what he is saying is that of all the women who have lived and working in our county for the last 200-300 years they coudl not find 2 who would be suitble?

He, as a man, needs to understand his unconscious bias. He has now set up 4 men as role models alongside zero females.
In the light of the fuss around the new £10 and the lack of women, he should have been more on the ball.

What an unbelievably disappointing start to a new school.
As a parent I would now be concerned at what other areas of bias were just going to slide in?

he needs to put his hands up to the mistake and change it. Use the change as a teaching point.

To be honest, I would be inclined to accidentally let this slip to the local press

please make your email stronger, in particular please don't say it is too late to change.

I would go for - as 50% of the school will be female, perhaps we could have 2 female and 2 male houses? Famous local females include XX YY and ZZ

Did you copy anyone else into the email? It might be useful if more staff know of your concern. There are likely female members of staff for whom the penny will drop more easily and they might vocalise support if senior enough.

We'll dome for raising it OP. I raised the issue of poor girls' sports provision with my DD's headteacher and she fobbed me off rudely. I counter replied but got nowhere.

What Datun said above. We just need to reframe the issue. YANBU and you are not 'that parent', you are helping the school support diversity and provide good role models for all children. This is not a non-issue!! Good luck!

and Florence Nightingal was also a hugely influential statistician.

thisisstatistics.org/florence-nightingale-the-lady-with-the-data/

but as others had said that didn't fit with the 'women can only be known for being good at womenly stuff' narrative.

Well done for fighting this. My son's have been in houses named after Rosalind Fraklin and Jane Goodall. Two amazing role models.
This stuff REALLY matters. It feeds into unconscious biases that have huge impact on how girls are perceived both by themselves and by the boys.
The school is making a really clear statement here that there approach to diversity is only superficial and that they are not willing to take the more difficult route to support diversity.
I'm a school governor and our governing body would be furious about this.

Unless you live on Lindisfarne, Iona or some other small island that used to be populated only by monks, I find it very hard to believe that there are no female local historical figures of note. 21 centuries of recorded British history and not one woman who could be a role model to girls?

And agree with the comments about Florence & Mary - though actually Florence Nightingale was an amazing lobbyist on public health after her nursing days. Bet the Year Twos only get the nice womanly lady with a lamp stuff though.

Anyway, Year Two is too late. Send the Head the link I posted upthread - by 6, girls already 'know' they are inferior. And choosing all male authority figures reinforces that.