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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

A reminder that all schools should be doing a parent consultation on RSE before the summer

36 replies

ValancyRedfern · 20/05/2021 18:46

If you are a parent of a school age child, has your school consulted you on the new Rse curriculum yet? All schools should run a parent consultation before the new curriculum comes in September. This is a golden opportunity for all parents to have our voices heard on what our children are taught about sex, gender, gender stereotypes, sexuality etc. If your child's school hasn't contacted you yet about a consultation, I'd recommend asking them when it will be. This may be easier than going straight in all guns blazing if you are reticent about raising your head above the parapet.

I am so worried. As a teacher I am seeing special schools doing lessons where children create pronoun badges, teachers adamant that they should keep a child's pronouns secret from parents, teachers teaching gender stereotypes as indicators of trans identity, that homosexuality is same gender attraction...the list goes on. Please do chase schools up on the consultation if you have your own concerns.

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ValancyRedfern · 20/05/2021 20:49

Kitty if I were you I would respond asking for more information. Dd's school sent out what sounds like more detail than you have, but I still responded asking for specific info on the content of lessons on gender stereotypes and transgender identities (I haven't heard back yet, but part of the deal is that they should respond to issues raised in the consultation, so I will chase if I don't hear more soon).

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KittyValentine · 20/05/2021 20:34

Valency, thank you for the reminder. I hope you don’t mind if I ask a quick question?

I have received something from my son’s school and completed it but I’m not convinced it was sufficient. The Policy document they emailed to me is entitled “Policy Essential Information” and is only 4 pages long. To me that implies that they’ve only sent the bare bones of the Policy (to be fair, the existing Policy document on their website is entitled the same and is 5 pages long). Does that sound right to you?

I also received a document called RSE GRID Plotting Coverage Across Years which broke down the theme and content for each year group, which I found quite informative.

I just found the Policy and the Questionnaire very vague - I don’t know if I’m being overly critical or not.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/05/2021 19:56

The guidance states:
Your child’s school is required to consult with you when developing and renewing their policies on Relationships, Sex and Health Education. These policies must be published online and be available to anybody free of charge.
You can express your opinion, and this will help your child’s school decide how and when to cover the content of the statutory guidance. It may also help them decide whether to teach additional non-statutory content. Schools are required to ensure their teaching reflects the age and religious background of their pupils

Here are the guides for parents :
www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-sex-and-health-education-guides-for-schools

Roomba · 20/05/2021 19:46

Ah, I attended a meeting about this last year before Covid. I assume it is the same curriculum, it just got delayed? From what I can recall, though it was a while ago now:

The primary curriculum was shown to us and discussed. I attended as I was as concerned as you, OP. But it was very straightforward and uncontroversial. The furthest it went towards controversial was mentioning pretty briefly that all mammals, including humans, reproduce via egg and sperm (teacher specifically said that males make sperm and females make eggs, as per Department for Education slideshow/handouts explaining what is covered, which was a relief for me!)). That is covered when they learn about
how plants and animals reproduce in science lessons. It isn't covered until Y5/6, as is informing about periods, hygiene and so on (unless needed, she did say colleagues have covered it earlier with some children if their periods started, occasionally as soon as Y3).

They also cover that families are all different, some have gay or lesbian parents, some have single parents etc and we should respect that people may be different to us. That's covered as part of the general school values, anti bullying lessons and as and when it comes up.

And that was about it! I was all geared up for a massive debate and instead felt very reassured. I couldn't see what anyone would have cause to complain about, though I understand some may object to same sex relationships/sexual reproduction/periods being covered at all, however briefly, for religious reasons. The teacher stressed it was not possible to withdraw children from this curriculum as it would be with RE.

I've no idea what is happening in secondary schools though, as I've been informed of nothing by DS1's secondary school! All I am aware of is the ridiculous, nonsensical Youtube videos 'explaining'
LGBTQI...whatever the other letters are that DS had to watch during a Y10 'Values' lesson. I counted around 30 errors or contradictions in a 3 1/2 min long video and am compiling a very long email explaining what a crap resource it was, along with a link to better, approved resources that don't contravene the law!

ValancyRedfern · 20/05/2021 19:19

I know from my work, but a quick Google has brought up this www.headteacher-update.com/best-practice-article/rse-health-education-and-parental-consultation/222762

Sorry I'm getting dd to bed. I will try and find the gov. UK info when I'm free.

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Leafstamp · 20/05/2021 19:13

Valency, sorry to be a pain, do you have a link/reference for the mandate that schools must consult on this?

You know how we like evidence on this board Smile Wink

ValancyRedfern · 20/05/2021 19:10

Yes. Primary and secondary. The new curriculum was due to become statutory last September, but then pushed back because of Covid. So yes, some schools may have done this last year.

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Leafstamp · 20/05/2021 19:04

Looks like some schools would have already done this and started the new curriculum?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

imsanehonest · 20/05/2021 18:59

Is this primary and secondary?

ValancyRedfern · 20/05/2021 18:48

Possibly. I'm not sure to be honest. I should have specified I'm in England in my post.

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SirVixofVixHall · 20/05/2021 18:47

Is this England only ?

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