Stonewall

[EqualityGovernor]

I posted this in Primary Education but haven't received any replies. Reposting in Education, hopefully for traffic.

I am a primary school governor at my children's school, with a special responsibility for ED&I.

The school has a genuinely diverse staff, and I'm confident that equality, diversity and inclusion runs through their entire curriculum. Over the last two years, the school has completed awards with EqualiTeach and Rainbow Flag. I have looked at both of these in some detail and am confident that the quality is appropriate, useful and being applied day-to-day.

In next year's goals, the school has said they would like to get a Stonewall award and this set off alarm bells with me. However, I am posting this in Education (rather than Feminism) to get a rounded view, rather than just supporting my own concerns as a gender critical feminist.

Has your school completed any Stonewall awards? Did you have any concerns about content - especially from a safeguarding perspective? Is it even appropriate (i.e. strategic, not operational) for a governor to express their opinion on the type of award the school decides to go for?

All opinions and experiences gratefully taken on board.

I would suggest you actually go on the feminism board and look at the teaching package that is being it forward by the charity group sex matters

I think it absolutely is appropriate for you as a governor to express opinion on awards the school is going for at any time. Especially however where the awarding body misrepresents the law and encourages schools to throw safeguarding out of the window.

I work in education and oversaw our stonewall submission last year. It troubled me greatly. Stonewall use it as a tool to forward trans ideology and there is a lot of pressure around introducing pronouns, making loos gender neutral etc. I had to push back hard on some of the asks.

Some of it is fine, obviously, although the parts that promote inclusivity for LGB staff are small compared to the endless trans rights stuff.

Generally I'd say not a great experience and very divisive, expensive and unhelpful.

Stonewall actively campaigns to end single sex spaces. They do not belong in schools.

Have you and the rest of the governors listened to the Nolan podcast? It very clearly outlines the Ponzi scheme that their award scheme is.

Also have a look at this: www.legalfeminist.org.uk/2021/02/01/submission-and-compliance/

Applying to be recognised by stonewall is: a) extremely time consuming; b) may mean that the school no longer complies with some of the DfE's requirements around PHSE c) puts the school at risk of non compliance with its safeguarding responsibilities.

What would be the benefit?
What would be the cost?
What quantitive difference will it actually make to staff and pupils?
Given the Nolan report and the legal cases again stonewall at the moment it seems like it would be much more trouble that it's worth.

Has your school completed any Stonewall awards? Did you have any concerns about content - especially from a safeguarding perspective? Is it even appropriate (i.e. strategic, not operational) for a governor to express their opinion on the type of award the school decides to go for?

If you are GC then you already know the answer to these questions, you know stonewall should be no where near schools, and the feminism board will give you all the information you need to challenge using such a corrupt lobby group.

It really is pernicious isn’t it… Stonewall has absolutely nailed the psychology of companies and schools and quangos, hasn’t it….you may or may not succeed in what your organisation is really supposed to be doing in any given year but if all else fails you can chalk up another “diversity” “award”…

Just say no.