18 months ago I first asked for a copy of the resources my child's new secondary school would be using for teaching gender identity in PSHE. I asked one main question - What are you doing to protect the children in your care from becoming part of the growing numbers of detransitioners harmed by gender identity affirmation?
After numerous emails, a couple of phone calls and several in-person meetings I have now had confirmation of the new PSHE curriculum.
Resources are drawn heavily from Transgender Trend. It is made clear that not everyone believes in, or considers they have, a gender identity. Cis and queer will be taught as controversial terms which should not be applied to others. Gender will be taught as social and cultural expectations placed on individuals because of their sex. Gender identity will not be casually slipped into other subjects as impartiality on the subject will be impressed on all subject teachers.
And what I'm most pleased with - No child will be able to self-declare a trans identity. Any child questioning their 'gender' will be referred to safeguarding for appropriate clinical referrals to be made.
A big thank you to the posters on this board for providing information and links and giving me the confidence to challenge this and showing how important it is.
And a reminder that we can all make a difference by speaking out. I have been a lone voice on this matter with the school and it has taken ages but I have had a huge influence that will have impacted not just the 1500 pupils attending the school now but future intakes too, and all the staff who will now feel empowered to speak up, whether they are full-on gender critical or just a little concerned about things.