Son's Secondary school renewing STONEWALL membership. I'm devastated, please advise.

[WeeTorag]

The HEAD OF SAFEGUARDING called today to inform me that they were planning to renew their membership with an organisation KNOWN FOR DISMISSING CHILD SAFEGUARDING! You couldn't make it up.

But despite my months of communicating with them, sharing links, articles, recommending Transgender Trend and SSA etc, all for nothing, because (supposedly) the majority of the teachers feel it would be good to use their resources and get the (dreaded) training. I've explained that Stonewall are widely considered to be an aggressive, high politicised pressure group with a narrow, but extremely controversial agenda and that the new DofE guidelines advice against using groups like this for teaching materials.

But I'm wondering if there's something fishy going on. Maybe one or two of the teachers also have an agenda. I've not met any of them in person, my son is only in Y7, so can't judge very well. I also don't believe that I'm the only parent concerned but because STONEWALL have harvested their #NODEBATE culture, they're probably too scared to raise it with the school. Anyway, I'm going to start the official complaint procedure with an email to the Head Teacher. Any advice? Any snippets I can include in my email? I'm struggling to think straight, I feel like I've really failed on this. :-(

Thanks, x

They really need to understand that they are breaching the DfE guidelines and that this could get them into trouble. I would remind them that Ofsted takes safeguarding very seriously and that failing the safeguarding element of an inspection means failing the whole inspection.

I know you've used SSA in the past but they (and TT) do have some good resources on this that it might be worth including. Also a good idea to quote from the DfE guidelines.

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to say you haven't failed. You've worked to raise awareness, if the school isn't listening that's not on you.

You won't be alone and there will be a lot of staff rolling their eyes - but petrified of speaking out because of the bullying they'll get.

Focus on their anti safeguarding approach, Stonewall's anti women / girls agenda (why would any school work with an organisation openly campaigning to end women's sport and remove all sex based rights?) and the new DfE guidelines.

Can they be reported to Ofsted for breaching the DfE guidelines?

Hi there, thanks for your replies. Good question, are they actually in breach of DofE? I suggested to the Teacher today that they might be in breach if using material from Stonewall and he said they only cherry pick the teaching material from outside agencies and then tailor it to their needs or what they feel is appropriate. But even though I have asked numerous times to see what they PLAN to teach on the subject, within RSE/PSHE, especially since the new DofE guidelines were released, haven't seen anything and they don't plan to let the parents review any of it. Right or wrong? I don't know what is standard procedure.

@CookieMumsters

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to say you haven't failed. You've worked to raise awareness, if the school isn't listening that's not on you.

Thank you.

Stonewall staff training is very costly and labour intensive in terms of record keeping etc in order to meet the membership requirements.

Liz Truss gave a speech today saying that the government is completely overhauling the equalities stuff, so a school spending money on Stonewall now is likely buying nowt but a huge white elephant.

Talk to the governors? They’ll be parent and community members

I'm pretty certain that you have, as a parent, a right to review the teaching materials. It says so in the DfE guidance.

Letter to the governors, explaining that as a parent, when a school seems absolutely bent on being trained by a partisan political lobby group with the Bell case having just concluded, the DfE guidance, numerous concerns....

You can only draw the conclusion (as in your OP) that there are teachers representing this partisan political lobby position and wishing to use their position to present it to staff and children as objective fact for their own political reasons. See DfE guidance and duty of care: teachers are in a position of trust and should not be teaching their politics to children in their care. Or presenting any one unbalanced facet of political stance as the objective truth. Abuse of trust.

I'm no expert either I'm afraid, but I'd say time to go a level up. You've raised all the issues with the head of safeguarding and got nowhere, so escalate up.

I don't know much about school hierarchies, but there's presumably a senior executive team - the head and deputy head plus others. There's also the chair of the board of governors. If an academy chain, there'll be an academy-wide senior team. I would reply to the head of safeguarding saying you're not satisfied and let them know you are now raising it with the senior management. You don't need to say much. Perhaps send your original complaint and the latest response from head of safeguarding, with a cover note, repeating that you're not satisfied with this response, that you think the school is breaching DofE guidelines, you would like senior management/board of governors to investigate and confirm the school's position, and that you - meanwhile - will be taking legal advice about the matter.

Good luck - it really sucks. As others have said, you are not the failure here! You're a champ!!

Thank you for posting about this. You are on the right track.

I would go to the Chair of Governors tbh.

The Safeguarding Head will be on the SLT, who will have okayed this.

It's not merely an operational issue within the school, it's about the school fulfilling its statutory duties and adhering to DfE guidance, which is a governing body matter.

@RoyalCorgi

They really need to understand that they are breaching the DfE guidelines and that this could get them into trouble. I would remind them that Ofsted takes safeguarding very seriously and that failing the safeguarding element of an inspection means failing the whole inspection.

I know you've used SSA in the past but they (and TT) do have some good resources on this that it might be worth including. Also a good idea to quote from the DfE guidelines.

The statutory DfE guidelines recommend using Stonewall to teach LGBT issues so they are hardly likely to get in trouble: www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education/annex-b-resources-for-relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

And the recent non-statutory guidelines are going to be reviewed: www.theguardian.com/education/2020/dec/15/education-department-to-review-schools-guidance-on-anti-capitalist-groups

Here is Liz Truss’ speech from today:

www.gov.uk/government/speeches/fight-for-fairness

I'm a school Governor. Definitely take it up with them.

We have a link Governor for safeguarding and luckily she's very knowledgeable and GC. She brought up with the head and SLT at obe if our recent LGB meetings that as a school we should be very cautious ahead of the Bell ruling. (The judgement hasn't been handed down then). All the SLT agreed.

I'd be concerned about safeguarding. Ofsted are on it about safeguarding right now (and always). I'd also be concerned if a parent wrote a complaint about our policies.

I received an email from my MP, in response to my letter, containing a letter he received in response from Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP
Minister of State for School Standards.

“Schools are required to consult with parents when developing and reviewing their policies for relationships education and RSE, which will inform schools’ decisions on when and how certain content is covered. Schools should ensure that parents know what will be taught and when, and clearly communicate to parents their right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE. Schools should also ensure that, when engaging with parents, they provide examples of the resources they plan to use. The statutory guidance is available at: tinyurl.com/Y5sP3PLe.
With regard to teaching materials, the statutory guidance sets out clear advice on choosing resources. Schools should assess each resource they intend to use, to ensure that it is appropriate for the age and maturity of pupils, and sensitive to their needs. These resources must also be factually accurate. We also expect schools to consult with parents on these matters and to make reasonable decisions about the content of their curriculum.

The Department has published a package of support for all schools to support
elationships, sex and health education curriculum. A one-stop page for teachers on GOV.UK, brings
together all existing information available to schools, including the mental wellbeing teacher training module published on 8 June 2020, the statutory guidance, guides for parents and guidance on parental engagement on relationships education. This is available at: tinyurl.com/Y2uwPk2P.
The page also provides links to the non statutory implementation guidance ‘Plan your Relationships, Sex and Health Education Curriculum’ and a further nine teacher training modules, developed with subject matter experts and
teachers. Additional content will be added in the coming months.

How much does it cost to be ‘Stonewalled’. I just think it’s lazy that the schools do these ‘accreditations’ and ‘award’ schemes. How far do they think they fall short in their teachings about equality, anti-bullying, respect, anti-homophobia etc..,? That’s what gets me. In what ways do all these little awards (paid for by school funds?) actually impact the culture of the school? Does it just make teachers and pupils extra ‘aware‘ of how they can ‘go wrong’ and get into trouble with it?

I want my school to foster good respectful relations between the pupils - strong girls not afraid of being groped or sexually harassed during the school day, boys understanding what’s acceptable behaviour and zero tolerance of sexism or homophobia, positive role models from diverse ethnicities within the school, anti-racist campaigns, Educational programmes about neuro diversity, disabled accessible facilities and welcoming to all abilities etc.

The whole Stonewall thing (or LGBTYS in Scotland) has just taken over. I don’t think you necessarily have to focus entirely on the fact that it doesn’t seem to fit the guidelines anymore - just suggest that it seems disproportionate to focus entirely on this element of school life. Aren’t teachers coming out of training with all this up to date knowledge anyway?

Slightly off topic, but what kind of area are you in? A friend works for an academy trust in a very deprived area of the country and there's been no mention of stonewall membership there at all - they're more concerned with ensuring the kids are fed.

@Lysistratathereindeer

Slightly off topic, but what kind of area are you in? A friend works for an academy trust in a very deprived area of the country and there's been no mention of stonewall membership there at all - they're more concerned with ensuring the kids are fed.

Hi, the school is also part of an Academy. It's not really a deprived area but I'm still not impressed they want to spend school funds in this way. The thing is, my son's school hasn't broadcast the fact they are (were until recently, it lapsed, and they about to renew) a Stonewall Champion. No mention on the website. The parents probably have no idea but, if even if they did, the majority of them would probably, naively, just think it's a good thing.

The parents probably have no idea but, if even if they did, the majority of them would probably, naively, just think it's a good thing.

Depends on how you feel/ what relationship you have with other parents - but could you make the schools stance more widely known/do you have other parents contact details to alert other parents that Stonewall is using its legacy to push an agenda most parents would be horrified of.

That Stonewall aims to eliminate exemptions - such as single sex spaces- toilets/changing rooms /dormitories,

www.stonewall.org.uk/cy/node/9461

• that they utterly disregard women/girls rights for safety/access/fairness in sport - e.g recent WR decision

mobile.twitter.com/stonewalluk/status/1314626860085542912?lang=en

www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/stonewall-statement-world-rugbys-announcement-0

(Note the lack of the words ‘women’ and ‘girls’ when discussing women’s rugby)

and their appalling response to the Tavistock ruling
www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/stonewall-statement-high-court-puberty-blockers-ruling

More Mums the merrier...?

Also worth pointing out in the DfE guidance: the expectation that partisan political views should not be presented without balance.

So presumably they will also be having training by Transgender Trend or FPFW?

They don't have a leg to stand on. I would also contact TGT or FPFW for advice OP, you may need to take this to the local authority but this indoctrinating kids in staff personal political views has got to stop.

DfE guidance may be 'reviewed' but will hardly be altered much, as it merely re stated the bleeding obvious. Such as expecting schools to:

• not selectively expose children to partisan political lobby groups
• not abuse their position of trust by presenting partisan political views and dogma as fact to children
• thoroughly vet resources for appropriacy and compliance with things like national policy, law, facts and safeguarding before exposing children to them

is basic common sense, standard practice. Anyone in favour of the above continuing is someone with a problem.

I think the best thing to do is to repeat calmly that if they engage Stonewall, they are breaching the DfE's guidelines. Here's the link to send them: www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum#using-external-agencies

This is what the guidance states:

"We are aware that topics involving gender and biological sex can be complex and sensitive matters to navigate. You should not reinforce harmful stereotypes, for instance by suggesting that children might be a different gender based on their personality and interests or the clothes they prefer to wear. Resources used in teaching about this topic must always be age-appropriate and evidence based. Materials which suggest that non-conformity to gender stereotypes should be seen as synonymous with having a different gender identity should not be used and you should not work with external agencies or organisations that produce such material. While teachers should not suggest to a child that their non-compliance with gender stereotypes means that either their personality or their body is wrong and in need of changing, teachers should always seek to treat individual students with sympathy and support."

Point out to them that Stonewall resources very clearly breach this guidance (there are examples on the SSA and Transgender Trend sites). Ask them why they are intending to do something that breaches government guidance. Tell them you are concerned that Ofsted will also want to know why they are breaching government guidance.

Repeat ad nauseam.

Point out to them that Stonewall resources very clearly breach this guidance (there are examples on the SSA and Transgender Trend sites). Ask them why they are intending to do something that breaches government guidance. Tell them you are concerned that Ofsted will also want to know why they are breaching government guidance.

Attached is the appendix to the statutory guidance which clearly recommends using Stonewall resources in RSE education. It is therefore simply a lie that schools using these resources would be breaching DfE guidelines. If you want to lie to your kid's school go ahead, but given all the Head has to do is read the guidelines to find out you aren't telling the truth then I can't imagine you'll get very far.

Please don't give up OP, lots of good advice and suggestions from this thread.