Schools ‘let pupils switch gender without informing parents’ - Policy Exchange Report

Horrifying. In my (all girls' school), there have been quite a few wanting to change names and pronouns, but from September a list was compiled of those students whose parents had okayed this. Teachers are not allowed to use name/pronoun changes for anyone not on that list. It had been unclear up to then, because DFES guidance had been unforthcoming. It obviously still is, but the school realised it had to have a clear policy.

Policy Exchange tweets on their launch:

"Today we launch 'Asleep at the Wheel: An Examination of Sex and Gender in School' written by @specalot with a foreword from @RosieDuffield1. This report highlights a safeguarding blind spot when it comes to how schools are dealing with gender-distressed children and their peers.

This Government has failed children by allowing partisan beliefs to become entrenched within the education system. Meanwhile, the Opposition has failed to pull them up on it.

✍️ @RosieDuffield1 in the Foreword for this report."

https://twitter.com/policyexchange/status/1641334768200458240?s=46&t=WHoOZZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

https://twitter.com/policyexchange/status/1641336954879893504?s=46&t=WHoOZZ_3Kv5G6-FyQuvE0LQ

This is true.

The SEND teacher at my DDs high school told me this himself. He says he has an 'epidemic' of children in the school identifying as trans but they don't want to tell their parents so in school they use different names and pronouns and parents are completely unaware.

I see in the Times report that, although GIDS referrals decreased a little in 2021 (perhaps related to the pandemic) they have risen again in 2022 in line with the continuing increase. I find that very depressing as I think, in other countries like Sweden, it appeared to be dropping off. The UK, despite being TERF island, is very heavily captured.

 for you @rogdmum I can totally understand how you feel. All the harm that could have been avoided if people had just listened. None of this is new, none of this is surprising.

just listened on sounds. Good discussion - I liked the comparison to anorexia - that is a safeguarding issue rightly so and the subsequent point made that gender identity, and only gender identity, is treated separately due to "contested ideology".

They do this over other issues too, it's not just trans.

I have watched KJK and Helen Joyce describe the same treatment from schools. If they can't get anywhere as the articulate parents that they are, what do you think these psychopaths running schools have been doing for years to others with a variety of issues?

There is no punishment so the abusers carry on, building their pension pot as they go.

Excellent coverage!
My only criticism of the Times piece is this - and it will be the bit that gets the be-kind folk up in arms. Of course children should be allowed to do traditionally opposite-sex sports! Just not 'with' the opposite sex (assuming rugby, hockey, lacrosse, etc). The Times not thinking about connotations again 🙄

Like a Mother leaving an abusive relationship.

Yes, the ACSL is blaming a lack of government guidance, but according to the report 25% of schools are breaching the guidance that does exist by teaching that children are born in the wrong body.

And how has this happened when safeguarding failures mean an automatic Ofsted grade of Inadequate? Do both schools and Ofsted consider government guidance to be optional on this subject?

So glad to see this being discussed. The report is excellent and exposes everything we have been shouting about for years.

Schools are ignoring this.

This is precisely how it is and why I left in the end.

Excellent news thanks for sharing. And Rosie Duffield once again shows what politicians with real scruples can be like. Keir Startmer should take note (but we all know he won’t).

I was talking to a friend who’s a senior teacher about this at the weekend. She said her school, like many others, has quite a few kids identifying as transgender and she feels her hands are tied in what she can say about it.

Following our chat about SRE resources and Stonewall thought she is going to look at her school’s resources and SSA.

Interesting how what Rosie Duffield and Miriam Cates have been saying for months (and what Stephanie Davies-Arai and Transgender Trend have been saying for years) is suddenly “explosive” and “shocking” (according to R4) now that men at Policy Exchange are saying it.

But at least people are listening now.

True. A child in my school has just changed her gender. Mum did not want this to happen (as recently as last week) but school have put a lot of pressure on and now it has. I am very concerned.

Come on sunshine!!!!

However, quick question - someone is quoted as saying they were struggling to make the right decisions without any guidance from the government. I thought DFE had recently issued a load of stuff which was pushing back against je born in the wrong body / gender stereotypes?

Described as a 'radical ideology ' - I only caught the end of it, was that the schools minister? Can't believe I just heard that on Radio 4!

Teachers require Mother's with abusive partners to give up their home and income to safeguard children, if these people can't safeguard at work they can't in their home.

Children at their work and in their homes deserve to have assessments to see if they can be sent elsewhere and adults who can safeguard them properly can be brought in.

There are systems in place for staff to report safeguarding concerns and toxic workplace norms.

There should be no sacred caste or double standards.

Valency the foreword is by Labour MP Duffield

Rosie Duffield has written this knowing what Labour would do to her, like SSA she is a responsible citizen.

Vulnerable families have always been abused by these services, modelling bullying to each other and students, gossips who fabricate and induce hardship in others lives at work as they do in their private life.

They got to show everyone who they are. Maybe everyone else will delude themsleves, pretend it's a one off and lessons will be learned never to happen again.

Headteachers and department heads don't tend to be in their early 20s. People in management positions tend to more likely to be personality disordered, yet safeguarding deems this type of character acceptable. Safeguarding leads at these schools are inept at best, most likely willing and knowledgeable abusers who are also in other areas. Every family they had dealings with should be reviewed.

On Radio 4 now