Calling Oxfordshire women? I have shit show of a response from OCC and need some parent power to challenge

[GColdtimer]

This was my email to them challenging their Trans Toolkit (like the Brighton one basically). My friend did a thorough critique of it which they have totally ignored. I will post their response in my next post.

We are going to write again asking that they address our actual questions but we need a critical mass of parents to make it worth our while.

Please comment here or PM me.

I am writing to you following a FOI request submitted (14449) last year regarding the Trans Toolkit for School you issued to schools in Oxfordshire. Whilst we received a satisfactory response from a FOI point of view, I am afraid to say we are not happy with the guidelines issued, or the process in which they were developed and would like to formally report our concerns.

I have attached a thorough review of the guidelines and attach a summary of our concerns below:

The guidelines continually conflate sex and gender - sex is biological and fixed, whereas gender is purely social and highly subjective
The guidelines are socially regressive and promotes the stereotyping of girls and boys.
They are contrary to what you are trying to do
They overstep boundaries and undermine parents
They are potentially homophobic
Any school adopting these guidelines is likely to be in breach of their safeguarding guidelines as there are numerous safeguarding issues which put girls in danger
The guidelines show no concern whatsoever for the privacy, safety or dignity of other children in a setting, specifically girls
The statistics quoted are wildly inaccurate and are based on flawed research which holds no statistical significance
The law is misrepresented throughout the guidelines and specific laws are omitted which deal with the protection of the protected characteristic of sex
The guidance directly conflicts with previous, well researched NUT guidance
Notes in the appendix shut down discussion with parents.
The lesson plans ask teachers to put aside biological reality

We discovered via our FOI the guidelines were written by representatives from children’s services across Oxfordshire and other authorities as well as with the assistance of All Sorts and Gendered Intelligence. The FOI stated that no checks had been carried out on these organisations or on the people who are providing this advice and guidance to schools. We understand it was created by Children’s Services and signed off by the OSCB. We would like to see the minutes from the meeting where you discussed the safeguarding aspects of this Toolkit (eg. allowing teenage boys to be allowed to share toilets, changing rooms and dorm rooms with teenage girls) and the impact on other children in schools, specifically girls. We would like to know which parent and teacher groups you consulted with. We would also like to be assured that you informed the schools that they would need to carry out their own equality impact assessment if they adopted the guidelines. Didcot Girls School was not aware of this and have subsequently taken down their policy.

We would like to ask that you take down the Tool kit until you have had change to thoroughly review it and carry out a Children’s Rights Impact Assessment in order to make it legally compliant, non-sexist and inclusive of ALL pupils. We would like to refer you to www.transgendertrend.com who have published a balanced and scientifically researched and robust alternative policy. I would also like to refer you to this Children’s Rights Impact Assessment produced by Women and Girls in Scotland Group which states that similar guidelines issued in Scotland “could breach as many as 15 articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child” - wgscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Childrens-Rights-Impact-Assessment-by-Women-and-Girls-in-Scotland.pdf and news article here: www.heraldscotland.com/news/17393697.trans-guidance-for-scottish-schools-breaches-11-childrens-rights-campaigners-warn/?ref=fbshr&fbclid=IwAR210Le60d71r3OpeQ35cZZYSYRqYPyMFfyeqF403L-d_WMG4Diz8iS8T94

Myself alongside a number of other parents (at least 50 so far and growing) would be happy to put their name to a complaint but I would like to think in the interests of all children in your care you will be happy to address our concerns.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your email of 4 February 2019. It was not clear from your email whether you were representing an organisation as you referred to “we” throughout.

We note that in the FOI responses provided to you on 27 and 19 December 2018, it was confirmed that the guidance, to which you refer, was “approved by the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board”.

It may have been more helpful to explain that the document was submitted to the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board but as it was considered as guidance and effectively a resource for schools, the business unit of the Safeguarding Board simply agreed to make arrangements for the document to be published on the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board site. Clearly, and tacitly, they have endorsed the guidance but there is no formal decision from the Board, nor is one necessary, in relation to the toolkit. In the circumstances there are no minutes that are available as you have requested.

As indicated, the toolkit is simply a resource for schools and they are open to consider the alternative guidance that you have provided. Similarly, schools are well aware of their duties under the Equality Act to consider an Equality Impact Assessment of any specific policies that apply as part of their public duties. No specific guidance has been provided by the Local Authority, or indeed by the Safeguarding Board, as to those statutory duties. However, as indicated, they are aware of these.

In relation to the checks on any of those individuals who have been involved from this local authority in producing the guidance, the earlier response to you of 19 December clarifies the Council’s position.

In our view the content of the guidance has been satisfactorily reviewed by an appropriate range of organisations.

Thank you for your interest in these matters and I trust the above answers your concerns.

Yours sincerely

I have asked them to post the Transgender Trend guidance if they are happy to offer alternatives.

oops, the letter I posted was my draft complete with typos. The one I actually sent was typo free the pedants amongst you will be glad to know

Bump

Really? Nobody here from Oxfordshire who thinks this is a terrible response??

I am pleased you are chasing this twofalls. I have info from a governor that secondary’s in the county are being challenged on their trans policy by parents and have basically being told they are following council guidelines...

That's interesting. Definitely our experience In oxon. The schools use council "guidelines". But then the councils are saying the "guidelines" are just "optional". It's a massive exercise in buck passing and arse covering and I'm so angry with the people who are supposed to be looking out for and protecting our kids.

I'm not in your area, but just wanted to say your response is excellent and I'm bookmarking this in case I ever need it. Thank you!

I'm not in UK but well done on your hard work. The submission is excellent.

Get onto your county councillor. We aren’t in Oxfordshire but the only way to get our CC to listen was to get our county councillor involved, then stuff started happening sharpish.

Oxfordshire woman here. Well done pursuing this.

If I've understood their reply correctly, they've said they put some "information" out, but haven't felt the need to verify it, or offer an alternative view, or minute their decision making process.

And they justify this on the basis of "oh it's just some information, no obligation to follow it, schools need to do their own assessments etc etc."

But that strikes me as disingenuous because on their own account they actually put quite alot of effort into that document. Albeit in my view that effort was misplaced. And they've not presented a balanced viewpoint. Or made it clear to schools that they will need to do individual work on this.

So which is it Oxfordshire? Just one viewpoint amongst many, or your thoroughly considered position? Because I can't tell from that word salad of a reply.

That response is disgusting, but you’ve already had my opinion elsewhere. I’m with you all the way.

I'm not in your area, but just wanted to say your response is excellent and I'm bookmarking this in case I ever need it. Thank you!

Ditto!

Yes not in Oxfordshire but all power to you. Disgraceful response. Do they even understand what safeguarding is?

Thanks everyone.

@NotAnotherJaffaCake that is useful advice.

@TheCuriousMonkey yes exactly. It's such a shite response.

We are taking stock to plan our next steps. Would be great if we could get oxon parents on board.

I wonder if most of the schools implementing similar policies are really aware that "The onus is on each school or public space where children may require using such facilities (toilets, changing rooms etc) to work within the expectation of the (Equality) Act, whilst ensuring the implement their own safeguarding policies thereby protecting children's rights as well as their self- expression and safety." This was from the Lottery Fund review of the Mermaids grant. So it looks to me like the buck stops with the schools even if they are being given incorrect information by the likes of Mermaids and Stonewall and provided with seriously flawed guidance by the local authority with the implied approval of their safeguarding board.

Also this I'm not in your area, but just wanted to say your response is excellent and I'm bookmarking this in case I ever need it. Thank you!

Yes. My dds school took their trans policy down quick smart as soon as they found that out.

Not in Oxon, but great letter.

In light of the answer you got, I'd be very tempted to ask them how much money they have put away for damages to be paid to individuals in the immediate future (for actual girls that get raped/attacked/videoed/hurt in some way as a result of their failure to safeguard girls while at school in situations you have raised with them) and for in the longer term when those who have been encouraged to transition as a result of info they have been supplied at school from these sorts of packs and when 10-20-30 years down the line, they realise that they were pushed down completely the wrong - and irreversible - path and as a result are suffering from low fertility, difficulties having sex, problems finding partners, the fact that they haven't actually changed sex and can/can't have kids, the ongoing need for medication, the lower life span and so on...

I would also copy in their insurers and send it with a note explaining the situation...

Good point Rosa thank you.

A point about the buck stopping with schools - any governing body (or trustees, in the case of an academy) worth it’s salt absolutely will be reading and questioning any model policies from any source. The GB is the legal authority and adopting advice wholesale without question is no excuse if it turns out to be wrong. At my school, we certainly have not used LA policies if we think they are wrong, and have altered them as necessary. Our LA is crap though, so we are used to reading them with a critical eye!

I'm from Oxon I've checked my kids school's policies they don't confuse sex and gender.

I'm just getting my head round all the places these policies seem to be held and who to complain to.

Arggh just rechecked my eldest's secondary school's policy it now conflates sex and gender will be writing to them.

I have sent this thread on to my governor friend (we are both in different areas of Oxon). Have checked my DC’s school too but that is ok so far...

My children went through Oxfordshire schools and I support you entirely. I will sign any petition you put up.