Sectors like education and health aren't directly managed in every detail by government. They are mostly run by civil servants. There are thousands of people involved at different levels.

In part, there is distance on purpose, it is supposed to protect them from too much political interference. But it also means that structurally, they can avoid taking on government direction very effectively, for a long time, if they don't want to.

And they have been very effectively taught by "expert" organizations, by the media, and by their own training, to accept these ideas wholly, and think that they are morally obliged to stand up for them. People right down to the classroom level.

It takes a long time to make change in this scenario and I would even say that unless there is a lot of pressure applied steadily, often the organization wins out. There needs to be continued pressure from government on this and efforts to change thinking, and it will likely take as long to undo as it has to get here.

On the BBC:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65127170

"Rishi Sunak has promised schools will receive guidance on policies for transgender pupils for the summer term.

The Prime Ministerr_ intervened after a teaching union said its members were navigating a 'minefield' around gender."

I'm not sure he "intervened after" a union had something to say though.

Rachel Reeves. Doesn't answer whether she'd be happy being kept in the dark, says Labour have been calling on the government for months to publish the guidance. Have they? Does anyone have a link?

twitter.com/timesradio/status/1641342711637704704?s=46&t=WHoOZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

Ducking the issue as ever.
Look at the responses under that tweet! Not one of them with a clue about children - and all ignorant about safeguarding, throwing around right wing tropes and allegations of bigotry amongst parents.
Incapable of reading or engaging with the issues. So depressing.

Glad you’re feeling better @rogdmum . I’ve read your posts over the years and you have been a fantastic advocate for your child and children more generally.

Thank you to @2fallsfromSSA and everyone at SSA too for your work on this.

For us in education and health professions who are worried by the affirmation only approach it’s a real relief to see this being discussed more openly.

Keir Starmer responds:

"Keir Starmer says schools "need and want guidance" on trans issues: "I think it's very concerning to see that different schools are doing different things.

"And I think parents would want to know what's going on. I think that's understandable. And I say that as a parent myself.""

twitter.com/dominicpenna/status/1641405403559870464?s=46&t=WHoOZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

.

Someone was asking about this report being from a right wing group and how to frame it with their schools. This is our response to that criticism: https://twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1641376013320957952?s=20

If we sound cross its because we are.

I don't trust Women and Equalities to help with any of this. It's chaired by Caroline Nokes and has Jamie Wallis sitting on it.

I concerned about schools permitting transitioning of children even with their parents knowledge and support. If a parent affirmed their daughter's belief she was fat, would the school agree to starve her? Then there's the welfare of all the other children in the school to consider.

@ResisterRex He added: “But also what I’m also going to say today is that for the summer term, we will make sure that we publish guidance for schools so that they know how to respond when children are asking about their gender.

Well “guidance” could be a positive step. It will all depends on who is being consulted to make this guidance. I hope the Cass report is being used.

Flying question, but does anyone know how the BBC reported this?

I was listening to Times Radio on way in this morning so caught Grant Shapps being questioned on it, but haven't seen anything on BBC and it's not obviously up on their front news page now.........

Tanya will be on LBC at 2pm talking about this.

Times story has been updated to include comments from the PM:

Schools ‘let pupils switch gender without informing parents’

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eaf16a74-ce5e-11ed-9a78-fca06b87e87b?shareToken=b846aee24749f196f412ba733dedc64a

"Rishi Sunak has said that he is “very concerned” that schools are routinely allowing children to switch gender without telling parents.
...

Speaking during a visit to the UK Atomic Energy Authority in Oxfordshire, he said: “I’m very concerned about these reports.

“For me the safety and wellbeing of our children is of paramount importance. And I’ve also been clear that parents must be able to know what is being taught to their kids in school, especially on these sensitive areas.

“That’s why we’re already reviewing the RSE [relationship and sex education] guidance to make sure that it is age appropriate for children.”

He added: “But also what I’m also going to say today is that for the summer term, we will make sure that we publish guidance for schools so that they know how to respond when children are asking about their gender.

“These are really sensitive areas, it’s important that we treat them sensitively, and that parents know what’s going on, and we’ll make sure that that happens.”"

@fiendishdragon that is so shocking to see it written it down like that. We know that it is true but to see it so blatantly is horrific.

The Education Secretary is working closely with the Minister for Women and Equalities to produce guidance for schools which we will be consulting on shortly.

Why do have a picture of Kemi marching to Keegan's office and kicking the fucking door down.

Also in the Telegraph:

digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/1293/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/1293/pub/1293/page/5/article/NaN

"A DfE spokesman said: “Our priority will always be the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. The Education Secretary is working closely with the Minister for Women and Equalities to produce guidance for schools which we will be consulting on shortly.

“In the meantime, we are clear that schools should make sure they work with parents, pupils and public services to decide what is best for individual children.”"

Haven't seen anyone line up to call the Policy Exchange's findings into question. Have I missed it? It also feels like the quotes from those essentially being criticised are much less defensive than when Cates published her report.

Thanks for all the links, rogdmum. Amazing to see this front page news.

Our school's safeguarding officer said to us:

[Under the guidance we're following] "Normal safeguarding rules do not apply to transgender students."

It's an absolute trainwreck.

Schools are teaching children that some girls have a penis.
Schools are putting male and female children in the same changing rooms/dormitories.

So when a male teenager undresses, and a teenage girl objects, is this

• indecent exposure?
• a transphobic hate incident/bullying?

I don't understand how anyone is advocating for this - it's clearly a disaster for all the children, including and especially those who identify as trans. A total failure to think about consequences. How can schools not see the immense danger for children, and the legal risks to the schools?

I'm so angry with schools for getting this so wrong. Yes, they have been let down by government but regardless they have shown themselves to be gullible and spineless and with inadequate critical thinking skills and safeguarding knowledge.

On this, the report has a solid potted history of how we got here. I can't see any comment from Stonewall or Mermaids. Not checked all the others names there though just yet.

Has Keegan said anything?

Stay strong. You've personally done so much and fought for so long it must be exhausting. But without women like you really pushing for answers on these things and putting yourself and your story into the msm we wouldn't be as far forward as we are.

As is often said about the shit parts of childhood...this to shall pass.

It will be over one day. Sanity will prevail!

🍷