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Original poster

Please help! Gender not sex on a school 'protected characteristics' poster, just spoken to the Head!

994 replies

Vebrithien · 06/01/2023 09:55

Good morning,

I started this thread before Christmas

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4684558-today-i-found-my-bravery?page=1

The overview is that my DD's primary school is displaying posters by No Outsiders, which are supposed to show the 9 protected characteristics, but shows gender, not sex.

The (male) deputy head I mentioned it to, before Christmas, has not got back to me. The posters are still there.

I summoned up my courage this morning, and spoke to the Headteacher. She seemed surprised, as I said I'd already mentioned it to one deputy head, and that I'd picked up on it due to my school expecting Ofsted, and reissuing our equality training.

The Head said that it was surprising, as No Outsiders were an organisation whose specialism was equalities.

I replied that the EA2010 says sex, not gender. I also mentioned that there were some concerning resources produced by them, including an assembly where a dad wants to offer violence to children who do not accept his trans child. (I know no more than this)

The Head is going to talk to her other deputy head, whose responsibility this is, and to try to put us in contact.

Where do I do from here?

Can any one help me with evidence? What particularly is dodgy about No Outsiders?

Is there anything that states that schools mustn't misrepresent the EA?

Is there any DofE (or whatever it's called now) guidance for schools on the resources they used or how they represent the EA?

And, how should I go about finding out if the school uses other No Outsiders resources?

Please help, I want as much evidence as I can.

Still shaking with adrenaline from speaking to the Head!

OP posts:
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Original poster
Vebrithien · 26/01/2023 10:36

DepHead email to me

Dear Veb,

Apologies for the delay in getting this to you.

I have contacted the company that has supplied us with the No Outsiders poster.

I have copied parts of our communication for your information - I hope that answers your queries.

We have discussed this further with SLT and they are all now aware of the reasons for the changes in language that you queried.

Any further questions or if you'd like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Many thanks for your time and support,

DepHead

OP posts:
Original poster
Vebrithien · 26/01/2023 10:30

Shit shit shit shit shit.

The DepHead has emailed me.

She can contacted No Outsiders, and has forwarded the email to me.

I will copy below, in the next few messages.

It's entrenched. But at least I have her email address.

OP posts:
ScrollingLeaves · 26/01/2023 09:12

Surely it's disingenuous to say "no, no, not the Equality Act 9 protected characteristics", where the poster has 9 categories, 8 of which are directly lifted from the Equality Act, and the poster states these people are all equal?

It is disingenuous. Especially as the deputy head also told you gender meant sex, thereby implying the poster does show the 9 characteristics of the EA.

She was contradicting herself.

The DoE says the EA should be taught.
Therefore anyone would think this poster is up for that purpose, seeing as it mimics it in all but one characteristic.

If she is right and it isn’t really the EA, then it should be taken down for being misleading to children about the EA.

This is all thinking out loud though. Your letter is better than trying to tell her all this.

NancyDrawed · 26/01/2023 08:32

Registered letter would be the best in terms of a paper trail, I agree, but is probably more hassle than handing something in to the office.

It seems mad to have to go to such lengths just to have the conversation!

Although to be fair, the schools my children attend don't/didn't make staff emails widely available to parents, I assume to avoid staff being bombarded. Other local schools welcome emails direct to staff

SinnerBoy · 26/01/2023 07:40

NancyDrawed · Today 07:18

Would it be possible to either check your hunch about the email address verbally with the office if you haven't tried this already, or hand deliver a letter marked private and confidential to the office and follow up with an email to the office email address FAO DepH to check receipt?

A registered letter would probably be better, as there's a secure paper trail to follow and they can't deny that it's been delivered.

NancyDrawed · 26/01/2023 07:18

How frustrating!

Would it be possible to either check your hunch about the email address verbally with the office if you haven't tried this already, or hand deliver a letter marked private and confidential to the office and follow up with an email to the office email address FAO DepH to check receipt?

Original poster
Vebrithien · 26/01/2023 06:53

I know.
That's why I put "equal" in my draft.

Surely it's disingenuous to say "no, no, not the Equality Act 9 protected characteristics", where the poster has 9 categories, 8 of which are directly lifted from the Equality Act, and the poster states these people are all equal?

Arrrrrrgggghh!

I'm in work today, it's going to be a busy one.

I've still had no joy in getting an email address. Did wonder about asking the school office to pass on my email address.

Otherwise, I could send the message on Class Dojo and send a physical letter as well.

OP posts:
ScrollingLeaves · 25/01/2023 20:45

The problem is that in this case the deputy head infuriatingly tried to argue that the No Outsiders poster is not the Equality Act per se, just a poster to foster inclusivity. (n.b. It does say “No one is the same, but everyone is equal.”

Please help! Gender not sex on a school 'protected characteristics' poster, just spoken to the Head!
Jezzz · 25/01/2023 18:16

I recently had a similar situation. I emailed as follows:

Your policy headline "You should not exclude anyone on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, gender, marital status, sexual
orientation, age or disability" appears not to include Sex, which is an important protected characteristic.

"Gender" is not in fact a protected characteristic, but "Gender reassignment" is.

So your policy statement should say
" You should not exclude anyone on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, gender reassignment, marital status, sexual
orientation, age or disability."

If in doubt, can I suggest you consult a suitably qualified lawyer?

It did the trick. Gender reassignment is a protected characteristic in law, so you cannot argue against its inclusion unfortunately.

angelico53 · 25/01/2023 17:59

Just had a thought. Many people are coy about saying the word "sex", and so "gender" became a polite, but inaccurate, substitute. Do your likely readers know this? Might be confusing otherwise.

NancyDrawed · 25/01/2023 12:39

Great letter, Verbrithien, I hope you get a favourable response.

ScrollingLeaves · 25/01/2023 12:23

What a good sign.

Ask the office in case, explain the other one won’t do,
otherwise,
Send a letter by recorded delivery?

Original poster
Vebrithien · 25/01/2023 12:07

(as an aside, this is the photo I posted on my other thread. I marked the sign put up on the ladies toilet, in the school I teach in)

Please help! Gender not sex on a school 'protected characteristics' poster, just spoken to the Head!
OP posts:
Original poster
Vebrithien · 25/01/2023 12:04

Thank you, all.

I'm struggling to find an email address.

We usually use Class Dojo, to communicate with staff. I can message the DepHead via this, however the messages disappear at the end of the academic year.

The only email address I can currently find, is for the school office. I'm not keen on sending the full email to the general school office email address.

I can make an educated guess at the DepHead's email, but again, this is a risk.

Email the office, asking for her email address? They are almost certainly going to say that I should message her on Class Dojo.

OP posts:
BookWorm45 · 25/01/2023 11:53

@Vebrithien I think your 2nd draft looks very good. Sending you support.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 25/01/2023 11:47

Draft 2 looks good to me (with that typo fixed).

Boiledbeetle · 25/01/2023 10:02

@Vebrithien Good letter, and honestly if you still get no joy you just know you are going to be sending @SinnerBoy version from up thread.

Hope you get some response from them. Failing that I'd go armed with a black marker and actually correct any posters you see as you walk the corridor to correct your child.

HagoftheNorth · 25/01/2023 09:50

Well done Vebrithian and please keep going. Women and girls are important. The law is important. The work you are doing is important. I hope you are feeling better soon 💐

Original poster
Vebrithien · 25/01/2023 09:38

Thank you!

Didn't notice that typo, glad to have corrected it now.

OP posts:
bignosebignose · 25/01/2023 09:33

Looks good, one typo caught my eye so I may as well point it out:

Please see below for the exert and source references.

Should be excerpt

ScrollingLeaves · 25/01/2023 09:28

In my opinion that is a first rate letter. It is clear and to the point, does not argue with the Deputy Head on a personal level, but draws attention to the Equality Act itself and the DoE requirement to comply with it.

Original poster
Vebrithien · 25/01/2023 09:19

Dear DepHead,

On the 11th of January, we discussed the No Outsiders posters displayed in school, which show 9 attributes or categories of people that are welcome in the school, and who are "equal".

8 of these attributes/categories are the EA 2010 protected characteristics, with their exact wording in law.

The 9th category, which in law is "sex" has been replaced with "gender", which has no current definition in law.

My concern is that this is at odds with the 2020 Department of Education RSE guidance, which states that outside agencies and resources must be checked by yourselves, to ensure that they comply with the Equality Act 2010.

Please see below for the exert and source references.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours,
Veb

"When deciding on the external agencies and resources to use, you should make appropriate checks to ensure that the agencies’ approach to teaching relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education and the resources that they plan to use comply with:

the Equality Act 2010"

Source: Department of Education, Guidance; planning your relationship, sex and health education curriculum, September 2020

Link: www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum#using-external-agencies

Last accessed on: 24/01/2023

OP posts:
Original poster
Vebrithien · 25/01/2023 09:10

Righto.

Second draft...

OP posts:
angelico53 · 25/01/2023 08:03

Good advice, bintu, I think. But sending @Vebrithien best wishes and support.

(I'm assuming that you have considerd the traditional methodology of finding their bags and pooing in them? Yes? Good show.)

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 24/01/2023 23:18

Short and (not so) sweet is good. But I'd take out the paras about the previous disagreement and re-request for the reading matter, and replace it with the DfE guidance (not the full list of things they need to check compliance against just the intro and the EA).

Swipe left for the next trending thread