SCARF schools resources

[SmallPug]

Hello, I'm taking part in a parent consultation tonight about the schools RSE curriculum. Most of what they've sent through is fine but there some aspects which don't look so great. The school is using SCARF resources which is part of Coram Life Education. They've quoted the Dfe guidance which says:

Pupils should be taught the facts and the law about sex, sexuality, sexual health and gender identity in an age-appropriate and inclusive way. All pupils should feel that the content is relevant to them and their developing sexuality. Sexual orientation and gender identity should be explored at a timely point and in a clear, sensitive and respectful manner. When teaching about these topics, it must be recognised that young people may be discovering or understanding their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

And there's a whole bit about 'being transgender inclusive' as well as a "fact" quote from Stonewall.

They haven't defined what 'gender identity' is.

I wonder if anyone out there has experience with Scarf and Coram Life education? I don't know how concerned or not to be. Seems like teaching about "gender identity" is the norm now.

Oh and there's a quote from the Royal College of Psychiatrists which uses the term "sex assigned at birth"

Hi OP

I'm not sure whether to envy your task or be darned glad I've not got to do it. Safe Schools Alliance and Transgender Trend could be good sources?

I'd want to know - What are the facts about gender identity? And when talking about facts will it be acknowledged that biological sex is real?

I think the best view to come from is everything which could become policy is checked off against safeguarding for all. Not just a few. And if it contradicts another way round must be found. And are sure the Equalities Act isn't misinterpreted.

Facts. Facts. Facts.

Good luck OP.

Thank. I'll get in touch with both TT and SSA.

How did you get on OP?

My son's school has just asked if any parents wish to be involved in a review of their RSE curriculum and policy and I'm tempted, particularly as I've just read the school's Equality Policy and seen that it incorrectly states that gender is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

Ugh. Well. I got into a bit of a thing with another parent. As I'd emailed the head specifically asking about gender identity stuff, she brought it up (which I didn't appreciate as I actually wanted to listen and kinda see how it played out!). I questioned the teaching of it and said I didn't have a gender identity and another parent - a medic and science journalist no less - started spouting about how we all have a gender identity. Then there was some words about using the phrase 'sex assigned at birth'. Annoyingly the royal colleague of psychiatrists had used that phrasing in the materials. The Coram Life Education representative said it's correct to use 'assigned at birth'. I basically felt pretty much on my own and because the pain in the arse mum was a medic she had a very know it all attitude - offering to give us information on gender identity in pre-pubescent kids . I did a bit of social media peeking and her insta is full of selfies. (Apols if that's anyone's bag but for me it's a red flag!). The few other parents there (we were all mums) clearly didn't have a clue and had just come to see what the school would be teaching.

On a positive note I think most of what they cover is great and child focused. I liked their approach. I don't think anything about gender identity and transgenderism will be a big focus.

I contacted Safe Schools and TT and SSA have come back to say they're taking a look at the materials.

I say do it if your keen. I know now what and when to look out for this stuff and I'm going to make sure my kids are told factual stuff about sex and not gender guff.

God - sounds tough. Medic Mum sounds like a right pain - imagine insisting that another person has a gender identity, when they've told you they don't. Beggars belief!

I think I will put myself forward, if only to see what materials they will be using. Thank you.

the pain in the arse mum was a medic she had a very know it all attitude - offering to give us information on gender identity in pre-pubescent kids

Maybe write the head again in case PITAM (PAIN IN THE ARSE MUM) follows through with that threat, and head PITAM off

BTW, you're amazing OP

I like Findthetruth's suggestion.

also agree OP, good for you for going, that's great to hear these conversations are happening and also that your school hasn't set anything in stone yet.

The other parents. ... some of them are going to be like lurkers on MN ...is there any value if you know them of having a chat to see where the land lies? If nothing else to offer resources/links to the above organisations to give them the other side of the conversation to consider, as it were? You can bet PITA mum may bring out Stonewall resources at some point.

Reading this thread, buying a certain bag to use for my next Aldi shop and happenings in the House of Lords yesterday are certainly making me feel more confident to start talking about this more beyond MN.

For me the line in the sand is - is this policy going to ensure every single child is safe, is able to maintain boundaries and remains protected under law. If not, back to the drawing board.

I'm picturing your face though at being informed YOU DO have a gender identity Ahhhh, what a load of bollocks.

Apolz for sweary post. I'm on the wine

Aw thank you findthetruth - those are my first Mumsnet flowers!

Yes I was planning to follow up with email to head but hoping to have more from SSA and TT to back me up. It's funny as I feel knowledgable about all this, but when you're faced with a genderist and those minded to "be kind" and think they're being progressive, etc, it suddenly feels hard when you have to be the one to go against the grain.

Also - typo in previous post 'you're' not your.

Ha ha tellmewhenthelangshipladscoz - no need to apologise. Enjoy your drink and I love a good swear. I mean, what do you say when someone tells you you have a gender identity?! Tell me where I can find it?!

I try to raise it with people subtly or drop the odd comment in. My lovely NCT group know where I stand. Taking it a bit more slowly with the school parents. I do wear my Adult Human Female Tshirt and hoodie around though. Most people just don't have a clue.

The lords debate, some big articles, and that sky Aus interview with Holly Lawford-Smith today and a very sympathetic interviewer really gave me hope. And then you see the tsunami of pronouns coming for you she her he him they there waaaaaa....

Now I know for sure you rock OP

Keep couraging Vipers. There are definitely green shoots appearing that tell me we're not the only ones asking questions. House of cards, anyone?

Cheers all

forages behind sofa to see if gender identity is there ...

🤣

By using the phrase 'assigned at birth' - which is activist speak rather than accurate medical language - the RCPsych's position statement makes it clear that some in the higher echelons of the college have been ideologically captured.

It is almost impossible to find out who authored the statement but it definitely does not reflect the opinion of all the membership, who weren't consulted.

Here, for example, are a couple of UK psychiatrists who are among the authors of this excellent paper which offers a very helpful analysis of the current understanding on sex and gender. It was written pre Keira Bell so is very prescient.

Griffin, L., Clyde, K., Byng, R., & Bewley, S. (2020). Sex, gender and gender identity: A re-evaluation of the evidence. BJPsych Bulletin, 1-9. doi:10.1192/bjb.2020.73
www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/sex-gender-and-gender-identity-a-reevaluation-of-the-evidence/76A3DC54F3BD91E8D631B93397698B1A/core-reader#

Maybe a good thing to share with medic mum and even the head as it is very readable.

Along with holding onto the fact that normal Safeguarding rules apply for all children, whether they have a special gender identity or none, schools do need to be aware the way they handle the issue can have an 'iatrogenic' effect.

Due to the long waits for gender clinics, it is highly unlikely that children with issues around their 'gender identity' have had this diagnosed by any kind of specialist.

Instead, children have effectively diagnosed themselves with gender dysphoria.

As the vast majority of kids grow out of this by the normal process of going through puberty, then the school needs to be very careful about putting anything in place that effectively holds them in that state of dysphoria rather than allowing them to pass through to the other side relatively unscathed.

Thank you ANewCreation - I have read that Cambridge piece and it's very good. I forgot about it though so it's a good one to share. I'll also make the point about gender identity being an iatrogenic condition. I'm really angry about the whole 'sex assigned at birth' thing - couldn't sleep last night as it was bugging me so much! The whole thing left me feeling a bit despondent because i hoped that there weren't parents like the PITA medic mum at the school. HA.

Is this a year 6 unit OP?

The parent consultation was about the RSE (or in our school's case, PSHE) curriculum as a whole (as it's changing, due to new DfE guidance).

Because I asked specifically what they were teaching about gender identity I got some extra information on what SCARF teach about that and about transgenderism.

The main materials were all fine. It was the extra info (and what the woman from Coram said in the meeting) which concerned me.

I think they cover gender stereotyping in year 4, and then anything else to do with gender identity in years 5/6. It sounded as though most of that was focusing on letting the kids talk about stuff rather than pushing a narrative.

I just want to clarify a few points about terminology and sound a note of caution with the school, as I don't think they're aware enough about the issues.

That's a good approach OP. Most schools don't realise that they've been ideologically captured so parents raising concerns is critical. And of course emphasising the key bits from the DfE guidelines - children never being taught that they could be born in the wrong body and schools ensuring political neutrality.

Thanks. I'll reiterate those points too. I was composing my email to the Head at 3am

Saw this great quote from Matthew Parris in the Times which I think is apposite for your situation, OP. There's another thread on it with a share token but this part particularly resonated for me, particularly with teaching about this subject at primary school level...

We shall have many more gay and bisexual people in the century ahead. That’s fine. And perhaps many more trans people too. Again, fine. But we should nail early the misconception that all we’re doing is respecting “what people really are”. By social pressure, classroom pressure, media pressure and, yes, through mere fashion, we are moulding soft clay, not discovering some great shard of internal granite children are born with. The younger the person, the softer the clay. It may not be a shirking but a shouldering of responsibility, to ask a child to wait.