Stonewall

[Hadalifeonce]

DD's school have advised that they are using Stonewall as an information source for their LGBT discussions, I don't want to derail these important discussions, but I really want them to be very careful about some of the 'facts' which may be stated.
Can anyone advise of the best way to put this to the school, I don't want them imparting opinions as facts and using sex and gender as the same thing.
I want the students to get a proper understanding of what is actually going on.

Can you ask for a copy of the information being given?

Why didn't I think of that?
Thank you.

No worries

Do share what your find OP.

I hope you get a copy of the lesson plans as that really shows the detail of what the children will be taught, rather than the overall guidance (which can be found online).

Then you can ask all the safeguarding questions. Head to Safe Schools Alliance, Transgender Trend and 4thWaveNow for more...

If you aren't already aware of them, go and have a look around

safeschoolsallianceuk.net and
www.transgendertrend.com

They can both provide support and advice and can be contacted via their website and on Facebook and Twitter.

You can do a lot of pre-emptive work with your DD beforehand. This is what I have done with my DD. I'm not having a load of transgender ideologists filling my DC's minds with a load of unscientific rubbish.

You don't say your DD's age - but stuff like, there are people going into school and talking about LGBT. We should all make sure nobody is bullied for being lesbian, or gay, or for what they look like, or fr what they wear - BUT some people think there are lots of genders, and some people believe you can be born in the wrong body - etc etc - and explain that you believe we are all born in our own body, and our own bodies are wonderful, and just because a boy likes pink and wearing dresses, it doesn't make them girls... etc etc.

"Smile and nod" I tell them.

Hello, I'm from safe schools alliance. We have a letter you can use as an intro and a red flags documents which will Help you point out where they are going to go wrong. Coupled with some info about stonewall not being the organisation it was (transgender trend has some great articles and this board is full of info).

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/

This should help you open the conversation

Also on our website there is info about the Oxfordshire legal challenge. That should help focus their minds. Schools don't like the thought of being sued. Get them to think about risk assessments and mention equality impact assessments.

Good luck. Message us if you want more help.

Bumping for anyone else in the same position.

Thanks @2fallsagain really helpful 👍🏽

The draft letters on the Safer Schools site were really useful, and I ended up going in for a really reassuring chat. Although our school steers clear of Stonewall. Good luck!

Thank you all, I have asked for details and have been sent a link to something called Kahoot, which appears to be a multi player quiz, which says I can play as a guest, but waits for additional players, so can't really find anything. Also link to TED, which seems to be a load of video clips. I am still Mon the wiser as I don't know what is being said to students.
I have written asking for some clarification stating that I am concerned about opinions and beliefs being quoted as facts, which can confuse.

I have already spoken at length to DD about a lot of these issues, trying to explain to her that because there are 2 sexes, and the concept of gender is on a spectrum from masculine to feminine and either sex can appear anywhere on that spectrum, and we should respect that.
It's so difficult to put that across to her without her spouting transphobia, which seems to be default at the moment, I just hope this isn't coming from school.

That's weird OP, why are they sending you video clips and some kind of online game?

This is from the school?

This is the lesson content?

Honestly this is just odd.

Are you able to withdraw your daughter until you know more? I'd ask to know about how this is taught across the board as it often gets brought up in assemblies, french, etc, (not sure if this is primary or secondary school and not need to clarify, just sharing so you are aware) not just the specific PSHE/PSE class.

Remind them that Stonewall is a lobbying organisation. They have a distinguished history, but this does not mean they are always right, or that their material/message is always age appropriate.

Hi 2fallsagain. Slight derail but after looking at your website I looked at our local authority's equality policy. When referring to the Equality Act if stated that the protected characteristics are different depending on whether you are a service user or an employee of the Council. If you are a service user sex is stated as one of the protected characteristics but apparently, according to them, if you are an employee then sex is not a protected characteristic but gender is.

I've had a look at the Equality Act and can't see that this is the case.

Have you ever come across this?

DD's primary school is having a parent meeting next month about new PHSE content and I'm concerned that if the Council have got this wrong then there may be some dodgy content in the PHSE syllabus.

feellikeanalien
This is very common. There's a thread on here somewhere detailing all the local authorities who were written to to force them to represent the law accurately with the correct protected characteristics.
Hadalifeonce
Schools must consult with parents about their sex /relationships education. Including sharing sample materials with them so I'd be asking the schools how / when that consultation is happening.

We are in half term at the moment. I think I'll have a look at the school's policies.

ThanksLanguishingfemale. I'll have a look. DDs school is in a MAT and one, at least, of the other primary schools is a Stonewall champion so I'm quite concerned.

Oops sorry bold failure!

Feellike They are incorrect as PP said.

Our red flags document and intro letter should help start the conversation. Can we ask that anyone who raises this with the school copies ofsted as there are serious SG implications for getting this wrong.

I would also be alerting the CEO of the MAT as they will ultimately be liable for getting it wrong, in the eyes of the law. That might focus the minds.

I don't know when it became ok to allow political lobby groups into our schools, tbh.

We have evidence that Stonewall want to amend the Equality Act to change the protected characteristic "sex" to "gender identity" and remove the exemptions which allow female only spaces. When did it become ok to campaign for removing a protected group's legal rights like that? In the meantime, they act by stealth - like the councils example, where they sneakily use gender, instead of sex.

I don't know when it became ok to allow political lobby groups into our schools, tbh.

We have evidence that Stonewall want to amend the Equality Act to change the protected characteristic "sex" to "gender identity" and remove the exemptions which allow female only spaces. When did it become ok to campaign for removing a protected group's legal rights like that? In the meantime, they act by stealth - like the councils example, where they sneakily use gender, instead of sex.

If one school in a MAT (multi-academy trust) has 'fallen' to Stonewall, the board will expect the rest to fall into line. It's how MATs work. And there's no mileage in contacting the LA (Local Authority) any more. MATs have shed loads of money direct from government and few constraints or oversight on what the do with it.

Go the safeguarding concerns, this is a political lobby group, legislation is pending better to wait route with this.

You can't withdraw your child, but they can be proper poorly with a tummy upset on the day...

OP

Is it worth contacting this organisation

lgballiance.org.uk/

They were set up to counter Stonewall - by an original founder of Stonewall.

Oh and sending you video clips and bands is deliberate obfuscation.

Can anyone advise what question I need to ask to get at what my local authority use for sex ed/SHE/PHSE (whatever it is called)? I don't have children, so asking as a local resident, if that makes any difference.

My searching on the council website brings up loads of internal policy docs, not any teaching material. So far I am happily finding no refs to Stonewall or Allsorts, but belt and braces...