I think school may be ignoring my emails re: gender identity

[Changeychangeychange]

After much deliberating I bit the bullet and emailed my child's school about 3 weeks ago now, on 24th May. No response. Half term came and went so on 7th June I followed up with a polite email checking it had been received. Got a reply from the secretary assuring me she would ensure the head would see my original email. Reattached PDFs from safe schools alliance etc. Another week has gone by, no response.

What should I do from here? Chase again? I don't want to make a complaint but I do want them to answer my questions this side of the summer holidays! My email was polite and asking for information about the planned teaching relating to gender ideology in the school. Also asking for information about the promotion of keeping secrets within the jigsaw PSHE programme. It very firmly flags me up as gender critical, which worries me in a LA maintained school in a stonewall champion city council.

The silence from the school is worrying me more than anything, surely the should want to talk to parents about PSHE concerns? I'm not used to dealing with schools as my child is in yrR, so I have no idea what to expect or what a normal timeframe for a response would be.

Resend the original (highlight the date and comment that you have had no response at all) and CC... governors, all the SMT, owners (if it’s private).

I think you're in a good position here because of the yeargroup your child is in.
In most schools year R have a really close relatives with parents so I would first speak to your class teacher about it and ask them to raise it in the staff meeting (most schools have one weekly)
Most year R teachers I know are keen to not stereotype (we get a lot of boys dressing as fairy princesses until they are socialised out of it by term three or so) so you could have a conversation with said teacher and maybe give them the materials to peruse.

The silence could mean a lot of things. That gender ideology has indeed been implemented and they're hoping you don't pursue it. That the school has only just realised they've been Stonewalled and are busy rewriting policies. Or the fact it's low down on the priorities list.

The normal route is: class teacher, then headteacher, governors, Ofsted.

And I agree with toffee. Leave a paper trail.
Even if it's only,

'Thank you Year R Teacher for listening to my concerns regarding the sre curriculum and gender policy. I look forward to receiving more information on the policy once it's been discussed with the appropriate members of staff.'

Relationships*
And I mean they are socialised out of it by parents and other boys. NOT teachers.

Forward to the governors and mention that you're disappointed not to have received a response so far on this significant issue, particularly given the media attention that SW and its ideology have been subject to.

I’ve had a similar experience. I personally think it’s a bit antagonistic to cc governors/SMT etc. I’d send another chaser expressing your concern at no reply, ask whether there is a reason for the delay, offer a telephone call instead of email, and ask for a date of when you can expect a reply.

The added benefit of getting it raised in the staff meeting is it will have to be discussed with the teachers, who tend to have more sensible ideas about gender stereotypes and sexism than non teaching SLT. It means Lt can't just put things down on the sky and then expect staff to comply and follow that line.
We've had some very memorable staff meetings where 'representation' has been thrown in as a bit of virtue signalling and has resulted in the whole teaching staff pointing out how white and male the curriculum is. The meetings are minuted so even if the staff are ignored there's a record that they raised.concerns.

Check the school's communication policy (they should have one) and quote that when you resend your email requesting a response. If you then don't get a response in accordance with the communication policy raise a complaint about breach of the comms policy with your requested outcome being a full response to your initial email (I know you don't want to but things happen if you complain!).

Thanks all. I could go directly to the class teacher first but as it's a large multi form entry school I assumed the decisions about the curriculum wouldn't be made by the class teacher? Perhaps I should have approached her first, I didnt want to put her on the spot. Also I'd have to chat with her at pick up time at the entrance to the classroom (due to covid rules) and I don't really want other parents hearing my concerns at this point, as there is a child in the class who presents in clothes associated with the opposite sex, and other parents who I feel are probably of the TWAW persuasion.

I think I'll send a polite chasing email towards the end of the week as per Leafstamp's suggestion. If still no reply after that I'll think again, but hopefully it won't come to that.

Did you get any response @Changeychangeychange?

I’m still waiting. The more time that goes by the more suspicious I am that school have not got a handle on these issues. Very worrying.

I wouldn’t mind if they just came out and said “thank you for your email, we are looking into it and expect to reply by X”.

It’s the radio silence that is ominous, and quite frankly unprofessional.

I would assume that they are terrified of being on the wrong side of the argument and haven't a clue which is right. And sticking head in sand. I would follow up gently with any of the recent rulings and concerns as reported in the press and acknowledge that this area will be difficult for the school because of the range of attitudes and opinions and strong feelings - but that your concerns are safeguarding, education and good governance, which is why you are asking and providing information and you wonder what governance conversations the school are having about their approach which you hope takes into account all these same concerns.

It is appropriate to include the school governors especially when raising serious Safeguarding concerns and because the school may be in contravention of Department of Education statutory guidance. They have ultimate responsibility for the whole school (pupils, staff and community).

They can’t just ignore this and hope it goes away. They have to nail their colours to the mast, one way or another.

Honestly I would make an appointment to speak to the head. It's what I did but I also rang the provider. The school had sent an email out with a leaflet outlining what would be covered, explained it would be delivered by the local school nurse team so I called them and had the conversation, no, gender identity wasn't going to be taught. Good.

The meeting with the Head was more about the fact they had the policy wrong (protected characteristic citing gender identity and hadn't included sex) which they hurriedly corrected.

The meeting was really good with the head, I got everything covered and he even asked for advise about material covering the topics so of course I recommended Transgender Trend. I did lean heavily into the safeguarding issues, it should peak their interest levels somewhat after all.

Governors must be made aware.

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/redflagsa4.pdf

Hungary this week banned the teaching of diversity in schools - especially LGBT. Perhaps this is the way forward? Ensure that no child learns that there is diversity in humans, and making sure they conform to a hetero-normative socialised state where the boys feel social pressure to no longer be princesses, reinforcing patriarchal structures and misogyny.

Seems the way forward for many progressive countries, and this is the outcome of the line being pushed here. Difference is bad. Must be suppressed and certainly not taught to the children! Don't then complain when religious groups want no LGBT and diversity education at all.

Do we really want this in our society? Slippery slope here. Very slippery....

Schools should teach... the 3 Rs, to respect everyone and not be a jerk.

The ‘diversity’ teaching in schools seems to be along one specific line - why is this?

Seems the way forward for many progressive countries, and this is the outcome of the line being pushed here. Difference is bad. Must be suppressed and certainly not taught to the children! Don't then complain when religious groups want no LGBT and diversity education at all

That is highly disingenuous and you know it.

Difference is normal and good.

Telling small children that the fact that they don’t fully conform to harmful gender stereotypes is in fact bad, and means they are actually the wrong sex, but good news, they can change their biological sex and actually become the opposite sex - now THAT is bad

Schools are pretty busy places and this year especially.
I would politely follow up with the Head if you haven't received a reply.
The DoE guidelines are clear and helpful about how this subject should be covered. I agree that it is useful in schools to tell children at an early age about how not everyone is the same. Also agree that the teaching has to be reflecting the law accurately.

My school policy doesn’t really mention anything about gender ideology. The only mentions are that diversity needs to be taken into account when delivering RSE - religion, gender, sexual orientation etc all affect access. And no avoid gender and sexual stereotyping.
Does yours say something specific?

Sorry just seen RSE is different to PSHE. PSHE is non-statutory

I've emailed the head twice (via the school office email as no direct email for the head is publicised) and then the class teacher on Friday. No reply yet but of course it is the weekend. On Monday I shall ask the class teacher if she's seen my email - she will have done of course.

I know it's a busy time for schools but really it is unacceptable to ignore and hope my queries will go away. This would never be acceptable in my field of work (also public sector). I'm really hoping to meet with the head as the equality policy is all gender and not sex, etc. Its not just the Jigsaw concerns - although this is what I mentioned in my email.

Actually, I don't think I fully understand the difference between RSE and PSHE, and what statutory/non statutory means in this context. Can anyone help me? Might prove helpful when (if?) I finally get to talk to someone.

This school (not my school) explains the difference well.
www.kapowprimary.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-rse-and-pshe/

The DfE have said gender and identity is non statutory. This means schools don't have to teach it and if they do there's no framework to follow. However, there are guidelines they must follow if they do. For example they're not allowed to promote stereotypes and assigned at birth etc.
www.google.com/amp/s/schoolsweek.co.uk/cancel-culture-gender-stereotypes-and-extreme-political-stances-what-new-dfe-guidance-says-about-rse/amp/