Resources for parents/carers and schools:
Transgender Trend: www.transgendertrend.com/category/schools/
Safe Schools Alliance: safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/factsheets/
Department of Education
'Plan your relationships, sex and health curriculum
Information to help school leaders plan, develop and implement the new statutory curriculum.'
September 2020
(extract)
Using external agencies
External agencies can provide speakers, tools and resources to enhance and supplement the curriculum.
It is important when using external agencies to take particular care that the agency and any materials used are appropriate and in line with your school’s legal duties regarding political impartiality. Your local authority, governing body and headteacher must:
forbid the pursuit of partisan political activities by junior pupils
forbid the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school
take reasonably practicable steps to secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views
The Independent School Standards, which apply to all independent schools (and most of which apply to academies) have similar provisions relating to the promotion of partisan political views and offering a balanced presentation of opposing views.
Schools are responsible for ensuring that speakers, tools and resources do not undermine the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
When deciding on the external agencies and resources to use, you should make appropriate checks to ensure that the agencies’ approach to teaching relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education and the resources that they plan to use comply with:
your school’s policy
the Teaching Standards
the Equality Act 2010
the Human Rights Act 1998
the Education Act 1996
You should engage with agencies to ensure their approach to teaching about relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education is balanced and the resources they intend to use are age-appropriate and aligned to the developmental stage of the pupils being taught. Schools should exercise their judgement reasonably, in line with their legal responsibilities, in the selection of providers and resources to be used. You should exercise extreme caution when working with external agencies and proceed only if you have full confidence in the agency, its approach and the resources it uses." (continues)
Ensuring content is appropriate
The safety of children is of paramount importance in school.
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.
You should work together with parents on any decisions regarding your school’s treatment of their child, in line with the school’s safeguarding policy and the statutory guidance on working together to safeguard children." (continues)
www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum#using-external-agencies