DofE new RSE guidance and advice - Sept 2020

[Nonmaquillee]

I have read on here that the above states that guidance cannot be used as "affirmation" within schools. I have been looking through the guidance online but can't find the relevant paragraph; please can anyone point me in the right direction?

I am talking about "affirming" "gender identity" and so on.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Schools as far as I can tell (I'm ks1-2 so it doesn't come up much) aren't explicitly told about affirmation models. What it does say is this:

^^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.^^

Two important points there:

That stereotypes should not be used to affirm gender identity.

So if Billy says, I'm a girl because I like long hair and nail varnish, a good practitioner will point out that gender non conforming people aren't necessarily the wrong sex.

However, if Billy says I'm a girl because I feel like one sensitivity is expected to be used and a new name etc. may be agreed with in consultation with the parents.

The teacher then has the awkward tightrope of having to respect the child's wishes without affirming their political view. Teachers, thankfully, do have some experience of this, such as with religion, but I imagine some less experienced teachers or those with an agenda going off piste.

The second point is in guard with safeguarding the school needs to work with the parents, can't promise to keep secrets etc. Do in practice how 'affirming' the role the school takes takes the lead from the parents.

Here's the added guidance. Unfortunately it's non statutory, however that means if it is covered at all it needs to follow the guidance, but some schools may avoid it entirely and are legally able to do so.

www.google.com/amp/s/schoolsweek.co.uk/cancel-culture-gender-stereotypes-and-extreme-political-stances-what-new-dfe-guidance-says-about-rse/amp/

Safe Schools Alliance have a range of excellent resources covering most aspects of education:
safeschoolsallianceuk.net/

Transgender Trend also have lots of publications about SRE:

www.transgendertrend.com/

Both essential reading for parents and educators - anyone in fact concerned about the safety and wellbeing of children.

This is just the quote that I was looking for!

Thank you so much!

Sorry - I was referring to LadyBuff's quote (groovy name!)

@persistentwoman

Safe Schools Alliance have a range of excellent resources covering most aspects of education: safeschoolsallianceuk.net/

Transgender Trend also have lots of publications about SRE:

www.transgendertrend.com/

Both essential reading for parents and educators - anyone in fact concerned about the safety and wellbeing of children.

I'm familiar with SSA and their superb work, but thank you for the links.

Really appreciate you both taking the time to reply ☺️

I feel a much-needed email to my DS's head teacher looming....

Cc in the sre/ pshe lead. Heads often leave subject management to teachers so it'd be good to involve those designing the curriculum. Good luck!

That's great OP. I can't tell you how many schools have been 'Stonewalled' with lots of younger staff coming out of universities where they been thoroughly gaslighted into accepting TWAW etc. Few schools have staff expert in these areas and with the teacher's unions having been captured (shame on them) it's not until parents speak up and challenge the gender woowoo being peddled at children, that they begin to apply critical thinking - both in curriculum areas and issues like mixed sex changing rooms and toilets.
Parents are far more powerful than they realise in this area - especially in getting teachers to challenge the anti safeguarding / anti girl aspects of all this.

It's worth looking the whole thing over, as there's definite guidance against outsourcing from groups with extreme political views.

I'd print it out and highlight the appropriate passages.
www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum

Thanks again PersistentWoman (love your username!) and LadyBuff - I am very appreciative.

I agree heartily with everything you both say. Schools need to encourage critical thinking - not a blanket acceptance of this insidious ideology. I'm mostly concerned about the potential safeguarding impact on adolescent females (the biological kind 😃, natch).

Good Luck OP. I have recently sent similar to my dd s school. Everyone should contact their children's school about this.

Reading all this with interest as I've just been speaking to DC's secondary school about the Genderbread Person and why I don't think it's an appropriate resource for schools (teaches there are 3 sexes, relies on gender stereotypes to define your "man-ness" or "woman-ness" etc.) The teachers were surprised to realise what was wrong with it! But did finally admit it probably wasn't great for school.

Any suggestions for better resources for schools?? especially later on in secondary when students are looking at social media representations of gender. I've been looking on the Transgender Trend and Safe School Alliance websites but most of it is text-based - the Genderbread resource is factually wrong but looks prettier!! I can see why teachers are drawn to using it as it seems to be a kid-friendly way of presenting complex information (but it's wrong!)

Any suggestions?! Thanks in advance!

I don't know of anything in particular but have you looked on tes? You can join and access most resources for free although I imagine you would have to trawl through a fair bit of questionable stuff to get anything good. Some resources are sponsored and are meant to be better.
Alternatively you can make your own and publish it there. Most teachers are capable of making much but resources than the gender read man. If you let me know what you want and the KS I could have a crack myself.

ShoppingWomble This is part of the problem. Education has been relentlessly targeted by adult lobby groups involved with sexual politics. As a result, few have dared to write child centred materials to counter much of the gaslighting rubbish the adult groups produce. Even a gentle little book like 'My Body is Me' by Rachel Rooney was greeted with cries of 'transphobia'.

Ah thank you Lady Buff! I haven't looked on TES before (not a teacher) but will see if I can find anything. It's for Year 10 - a replacement for Genderbread person or similar. One teacher I spoke to said the DofE guidance was "a bit vague"! I think it's just what's easiest sometimes - quicker to find something on the internet than to wade through written explanations of why it doesn't make factual sense.

Yes persistantwoman I see what you mean. Really sad though. Just wondering if there were things out there worth signposting to school.

argh that's persistEnt! why I'm not a teacher!

The DfE has washed it's hands of it and, no, there's not much direction.

But, here's the rub, the guidance is very clear what teaching shouldn't be, and that's enforcing 'wrong body, stereotypes' that is used in the gender bread resource. The guidance is not statutory, that means a school can opt out but what it doesn't mean is schools can happily push gender ideology. So I'd be having very firm words with the school about removing the unit from the curriculum until it is suitable. (I hate it when parents do this by the way, I've had parents question why I don't teach 7 year olds long division and had to pull out the NC myself for protection, but you are absolutely right to challenge this).
I appreciate it's easier to use a premade resource, but it's still up to the teacher to exercise professional judgement and actually make sure it's suitable and doesn't cement misconceptions.

ShoppingWomble
It's worth noting that there are some very good thoughtful SRE resources out there - but as all the organisations have been captured by the lobby groups and nobody has the courage to stand up against the bullying that would happen for not spouting the meaningless mantras, teachers have to select out the biased materials.
It can be done - but it's time consuming for busy teachers and it does need an understanding of the issues.

I think part of this is because the curriculum and expectations have become so full that subjects like pshe and see became an afterthought. Specialist teachers in the field in secondary as I understand it are declining due to budgets so it falls on other subject teachers, who have neither the time or the expertise to deliver it properly.

What also strikes me about the gender bread man thing is it's focused on individuality. Children quite like quizzes, tickboxes and scales to help show their individuality. They remind me of the old magazine quizzes and horoscopes. Self exploration fluff. I think this is what appeals about the resource and not the implications of gender ideology. A similar resource exploring personality would be easy to create.

Thanks both! Good points. I will keep plugging away.

@ShoppingWomble

Reading all this with interest as I've just been speaking to DC's secondary school about the Genderbread Person and why I don't think it's an appropriate resource for schools (teaches there are 3 sexes, relies on gender stereotypes to define your "man-ness" or "woman-ness" etc.) The teachers were surprised to realise what was wrong with it! But did finally admit it probably wasn't great for school.

Any suggestions for better resources for schools?? especially later on in secondary when students are looking at social media representations of gender. I've been looking on the Transgender Trend and Safe School Alliance websites but most of it is text-based - the Genderbread resource is factually wrong but looks prettier!! I can see why teachers are drawn to using it as it seems to be a kid-friendly way of presenting complex information (but it's wrong!)

Any suggestions?! Thanks in advance!

This Genderbread idea sounds awful, and as for defining your maleness or femaleness...WTAF?!?! It's IMPOSSIBLE to talk about gender WITHOUT using stereotypes ... which is why it's such an insidious ideology.

Schools shouldn't be talking about gender as if it's a fixed "fact". It's akin to talking about God as if he/she is real. Sure, some people believe in God, but others don't. Schools shouldn't be encouraging open, critical thinking - not presenting the information as if it's a "given".

OOOps!!

Of course I mean - they SHOULD be encouraging critical thinking!

I've seen pshe teachers argue the gender bread person does not contravene the new rse guidance because it separates gender expression from gender identity, therefore doesn't reinforce stereotypes. It's never clarified what gender identity is based on though.

@ValancyRedfern I'd be requesting to sit in on that class then. Or request that the head of department does and observation and debriefs you after.
You'd be surprised how quickly they will backtrack at the possibility of having their teaching scrutinized.
Once again, I am loathe to suggest being pushy with schools but those that shout loudest...
If my school was using it I would bring it to the governors. Or failing that, Ofsted.