School Policy

[TheWordWomanIsTaken]

Below is a direct copy of the introduction of the Equality Policy for the school that my granddaughter is due to start in September.

This single policy replaces the previously held separate policies on disability, gender and race equality. It reflects the legal duties under the Equality Act 2010:
• to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• to advance equality of opportunity
• to foster good relations

The duty covers eight protected characteristics:
• age (for employees)
• disability
• race (including ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality)
• gender (including issues of transgender)
• gender reassignment
• maternity and pregnancy
• religion and belief (includes lack of belief)
• sexual identity
• marriage and civil partnership (for employees)

Now I know that the protected characteristic is sex not gender (nor issues of transgender ), but what do I do about it? The policy is up for review in October this year and I want to write to them but I don't want to make things difficult for her parents when she has not even started school yet.
I can't let this go however, so any advice on how to handle would be extremely well received.

Wow!! That's even worse than my son's new school. They've just replaced sex with gender. But what's this "sexual identity"? Where did that come from?! 🤷‍♀️

I'm interested to hear suggestions and advice on this too. 👍

Lots of schools have the incorrect protected characteristics listed in their equality policies.
When it's pointed out to some of the schools I've contacted the majority have corrected.
You can find guidance on Safer Schools Alliance website

That is awful - but I suspect it represents what we find in a number of schools where individual staff have been groomed by lobby groups into believing their version of the law rather than the actual law.
Given your connection to the school I'd set up a new throwaway email account and write to them to advise the school that their Equality Policy is illegal. I'd point out that they cannot make up the protected characteristics - they are enshrined in law.
I would ask them to withdraw their current incorrect policy and to ensure that all future policies are legally accurate.
Send your email to the Head, Deputy, safeguarding lead and chair of governors and include this link:

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/about/

Ask for a response and wait and see what happens.

Thank you all, yes, it is shocking isn't it.
I have actually already set up a throwaway email account as I don't want to identify my grandchild. If it were my child I would be more visibly vocal but I don't want to make her parents uncomfortable - they are quite young (had her at 17!) and whilst I'm sure they would agree they would be embarrassed by me making a 'fuss'.
I have had a look at the safe schools alliance site and used part of their template along with inclusion of the actual characteristics from the EA.
Hopefully, when it is reviewed it will be correct

It's quite unbelievable how anyone (especially in education where they should understand about legislation and guidance) can deliberately change key aspects of the law like this. If nothing else they must have access to Google. Or they have copied it from one of the many individuals / groups floating round twisting current legislation to represent their own ideology / wishes.

Gender reassignment - in primary school?

I wonder who wrote this for them? They seem to I’ve misunderstood the equality act - sex not gender. I’d be checking it the loos/changing rooms.

WPUK have a fantastic template for dealing this nonsense! I amended it for challenging my GPs surgery, yes really, a bloody medical establishment had gender rather than sex and had also omitted pregnancy. They had also added three categories that are not part of the EA.

I also amended the paragraph asking them to confirm that when they changed the incorrect bits could they also confirm that they had amended any related policies and procedures.

Copied here;

*Dear…

Public Sector Equality Duty & Protected Characteristics

The list of protected characteristics you are using is incorrect.

There are 9 protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010 (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation).

You have incorrectly listed gender as a protected characteristic when the protected characteristic is sex.

Not only is this incorrect but it is misleading and may prevent people from accessing their rights under the law.

Please correct this inaccuracy in all council policies/Please confirm that you are using the correct term of ‘sex’ across all your policies (adapt as appropriate).

I look forward to hearing from you.*

The manager of my GPS surgery come back within a week, confirming it was all amended.😊 Good luck OP!

• religion and belief (includes lack of belief)

I see the "religion and belief" section includes lack of belief. Could the gender section also include lack of belief in transgenderism?

@TheWordWomanIsTaken

Your granddaughter’s school’s guidance is so discriminatory and such a dire and biased misrepresentation of the law - it’s frightening.

Clearly this is dependent on how you/the parents feel, but I would consider complaining in your own name and state your relationship with the school. This will make it clear to the school that you have an active personal interest, not just theoretical interest in their equality policy, and you are one removed from the parents - so shouldn’t (hopefully) affect the parents relationship with the school.

Also - is there is a Grandfather who could also be named? It shouldn't do, but having a man complaining seems to help as this is seen as a ‘girls issue’.

As an aside- I’ve checked my school’s policy - they state sex as the protected characteristic, but the rest of the policy talks about gender. I think they mean sex/gender synonymously, the rest of the policy is sound and it’s not a woke school. Worth bringing this up?

OP its great that yr doing this-too many young adults don't want to make a fuss or be seen as trouble makers.....those that can shine a light on bad policy need to step up-good luck

Tell them they can't just rewrite an Act of Parliament. It's the Equality Act 2010 and no, it hasn't been updated. It's still the same as it was in 2010. Nine protected characteristics as mentioned above.

@ThinEndoftheWedge yes, it is worth bringing it to the schools attention. I'd thank them for listing the correct characteristics, but then point out they are potentially causing confusion by using gender within the body of the policy. They will either thank you and correct it, or will have to justify why they are using gender instead.

@LeftHandDown

Yes. You’re right. Will write. After all, if they don’t detail ‘sex’ within the framework of their equalities policy - how will they acknowledge/implement EA 2010 sex based exemptions?