Still Asleep at the Wheel: A Further Examination of Gender and Safeguarding in Schools - Policy Exchange

That's how safeguarding used to work. A child would disclose something and a teacher might, or might not, take any action dependent on whether they believed the child, knew the adult, liked the child etc.

There's a history of dreadful cases in schools where paedophile rings operated with impunity and it turned out that colleagues ignored signs and disclosures from children for years.

There's a reason for the formality of safeguarding guidance in schools and it defies belief that some argue for the right to make their own decisions.

We have seen this happening over and over recently. Safeguarding failures such fetishists in Girlguiding and other harmful fails in youth organisations. Allowing those people contact with children and allowing them to shape safeguarding policies.

They didn’t find the conversation irrelevant. They went away and did their own research- kick started by the resources I shared (which included Mermaids and NHS by the way as I thought it was important to be even handed and transparent). They spoke to ex pupils who they had supported to social transition in recent years and found that they were not doing well and were certainly not thriving.

They then introduced a more robust policy.

Your perspective is making the point loud and clear that teachers/anyone should not be making clinically significant decisions about someone else’s child without parental involvement. No one knows or cares for a child like their parents and the idea that schools should throw decades of safeguarding knowledge out of the window to enable a maths teacher (for example) to feel good about themselves based on a pity piece they read in the Guardian (or their Non Binary niece) is frankly absurd.

That you work with children is a concern.

Sadly, from my direct experience and from reports of many concerned parents, your blanket confidence is misplaced.

We have found out by bitter experience (and harm to children) again and again that allowing individuals to decide when the rules apply to them is not good.

All I've said it that it isnt always the right thing for the child to be forced to disclose to their parents.

So you've got all the kids in the school knowing, all the teachers knowing, all the other parents knowing, and also the child's siblings should they have any, but not the parents of the actual child??

Jusy think about it for a minute. What the hell do you think they're going to be thinking when they find out.

Plus your choice of language, 'forcing the child to disclose'. It's very one-sided and very emotive.

GlovedhandsCecilia

Is this another instance where you haven't informed yourself about what's going on? And are just judging based on instinct?

Knowing that parents of daughters have found out that they are expecting these girls to take their clothes off in front of boys should absolutely engender feelings of fear in the perpetrators.

In a nutshell, this is why people like you never change the status quo.

That you think taking a stand is "violence", I'm just staggered.

Not sure you've understood why SSSS is on this board? He's legally challenging his daughter's school who are illegally compelling girls to undress in changing rooms with teenage boys present.

I also hope the adults responsible for this do feel afraid - they should also feel embarrassed and ashamed for their failure to safeguard girls. If you read his threads you would see he's tried every possible strategy to get the school to safeguard girls - all of which have been dismissed.

I'm generally not in favour of teachers and schools being dragged through the courts. But when they refuse to safeguard children, when they ignore the law, then that's all parents have left and I fully support his actions.

Advocating for your daughter doesnt mean using fear and intimidation or violence and violent language to get your way. This is what men get wrong. It also aligns with what other people say about you on here.

And without the support of hundreds of women here, their advice, support and encouragement there is no doubt in my mind I would not have been able to get as far as we have and I am eternally grateful to everyone here.

I am quite, quite OK with that.

That you think advocating for my daughter is "toxic masculinity" whatever that even is, shines a light on what a compliant, don't make a fuss or rock the boat person you are - content to cede control and decisions to the so called professionals, despite clear evidence that they cause harm.

It's people like you who allow the bad things to happen.

I am standing up to be counted, whatever the cost, because doing the right thing however uncomfortable it might be, however much you have been conditioned to sit down and shut up, is NOT the way we build a better world.

@GlovedhandsCecilia

Now you have this angry man in the thread talking to me, too.

I’m sorry, what? It’s my fault that other posters have eyes and can read and respond to what you have written? It couldn’t possibly be your fault for writing them?

Crumbs.

Or they found the conversations you wanted to have irrelevant.

Because they are breaking the law, they are denying that they are doing so, and @SingleSexSpacesInSchools is taking them to court over it.

With, it should be said, the support of hundreds of women on this site.

I dont think that jonny now Jane should be in the female changing rooms and havent said otherwise.

All I've said it that it isnt always the right thing for the child to be forced to disclose to their parents.

Now you have this angry man in the thread talking to me, too.

You know when i said that man thing, it wasnt a compliment. The way you talk reeks of toxic masculinity. Why would you want professionals to be "afraid"?

This. ^^

In the case of many of those "professionals" they are disregarding the law.

I concur wholeheartedly. Through all of my own personal experience I have learned a lot more about safeguarding and the history and it’s plainly obvious that although it still happens, the dramatic reduction in sexual abuse, physical assault, mistreatment of children by parents by teachers by organisations that should know better has been reduced because of blanket safeguarding measures and protocols that are now in place. they are not perfect but they are a lot better than what they were, which was a position of secrecy hidden decisions hiding things from everybody

everything out in the open. It’s the best way forward.

Yep 🎯

This, 100%

Tbh, the discussion happening on this thread is often mirrored in schools where one person with limited knowledge / understanding repeatedly voices their personal views on a situation without knowing or understanding all the complexities.
It's why referring concerns to the DSL is the priority in a school and that usually stops the professionally dangerous individuals from being able to influence.

I'll say it again. Our safeguarding guidance is built on tragedy and loss and what we've learnt from past errors. As a society and in schools we don't always get safeguarding children right. But insisting that adults in schools must share concerns and not keep secrets is basic practice.

Of course it also protects the careers of naive or arrogant adults who think they know better.