School contact re RSHE changes - Stonewall recommendation

[JoodyBlue]

Just had a message through from school about D of E changes to RSHE in schools. The guidance is here - hopefully the link will work.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1019542/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf

Anyway, I am somewhat dismayed to see that the Stonewall is still a recommended government resource for teaching on LGBT, along with suggested lesson plans. Stonewall is listed along with Catholic guidance, and it is made clear that schools must discuss resources with parents consulting. However, to me, the link of a suggested resource in government guidance implies approval of that resource.

Anyone else have a view on this. I am quite discomforted by it. I would like to see alternative additional resources to Stonewall included for a balanced view on the teaching of gender identity.

D of e have said publicly they do not endorse or check the resources listed.

They say in the guidance that it’s schools responsibility to check resources comply to guidance and that schools must not use any resources from any organisation that relies on stereotypes or teaches children can be born in the wrong body or that is a partisan political lobby group.

It sucks because it reads like a cop out. D if e guidance was updated to get stonewall out of schools yet they take zero responsibility for listing them in the resources and get around it by saying they don’t endorse or check organisations listed.

You just have to complain to school about this. Use the ssa &tt resources on how to address the problems with stonewall at school.

Personally I’d be adding to those resources the bbc news article about tw raping lesbians and sw response that compares orientation to bigotry, the bbc Nolan investigates podcast and the news articles that talk about how ehrc and ofsted have left sw diversity champions scheme this year.

OP, I'm surprised DfE are linking to SW. Stonewalls children's and young people's services page talks about suicide 🚩, self-harm 🚩 and how SW will help the school improve their policies and practices. 🚩🚩🚩

www.stonewall.org.uk/children-and-young-peoples-services-champions-programme

The DfE & civil servants to the very top of the DfE have been totally captured. Regrettably it's going to take the exposure of safeguarding scandals that can be directly linked to the undermining of safeguarding before they (who are of course divorced from the reality of children's lives) understand how dangerous some advice is.
Whether it's removing parental rights by transitioning children in secret, age inappropriate discussions about adult concepts, Stonewall promoted mixed age LGBT groups in schools, random adults with a vested interest mentoring T children in schools, emotive and careless use of inaccurate suicide data. All of these (and more) will eventually negatively impact on some vulnerable children but as too many in the DfE are an arms length away from safeguarding and understanding children, they don't appreciate the potential dangers.

It's ridiculous, because the government put out guidance last year explicitly stating that schools shouldn't use RSE materials that claim, for example, that it's possible to be born in the wrong body, or that a child interested in toys associated with the opposite sex might be transgender.

@RoyalCorgi

It's ridiculous, because the government put out guidance last year explicitly stating that schools shouldn't use RSE materials that claim, for example, that it's possible to be born in the wrong body, or that a child interested in toys associated with the opposite sex might be transgender.

Yes the d of e put this guidance in place. The d of e say any links to resources on their page are not an endorsement or a recommendation and that schools are responsible for checking all resources, including those on the d of e resources page, comply with the guidance.

Which stonewall don’t.

So op- go print out the relevant parts of the guidance and then challenge them with it

for any parents speaking with schools about Stonewall there's a template letter here
safeschoolsallianceuk.net/2021/02/14/is-your-childrens-school-a-stonewall-champion/

Stonewall are very much still the go to organisation for anything related to 'diversity' in rse. Outside of our bubble they are still highly respected and lauded. SSA and transgender trend have some great resources to help challenge, but it's an uphill struggle.

Most schools aren't Stonewall champions but most will still assume Stonewall are a good provider of rse resources.

Thanks for responses. I didn't realise this guidance had been out for a while. It is disingenuous to on the one hand say resources need to comply, and then on the other hand to link to resources that don't do that. I will get in touch with SSA and certainly will speak to school who have asked for responses to their revised policy.

@MsGoodenough

Most schools aren't Stonewall champions but most will still assume Stonewall are a good provider of rse resources.

It doesn’t matter what schools think of anything. Schools have to follow d of e guidance. If the guidance says schools are responsible for checking any and all resources comply then schools are responsible for that. Regardless of what they think of stonewall.

It fucking sucks that d of e are such fucking cowards that they won’t come out and be transparent that stonewall are the exact reasons they changed the guidance. And it’s fucking irresponsible of them to link resources they aren’t 100% sure comply.

However teachers would have to have been living under a rock to not know this was why guidance changed. Some might not agree with it but that doesn’t matter, d of e guidance is schools job description. The only way to force them to comply is to complain.

I know schools are supposed to follow d of e guidance (I'm a pshe teacher), I was explaining why this isn't shocking or surprising at all that they are still recommended. I'm on several pshe networking groups on Facebook and I'm very much in the minority in having issue with Stonewall, and I have to comment very carefully to try and get the message out while not being banned. Many/most PSHE teachers appear to have no issue at all with Stonewall, and are either entirely unaware of the controversies surrounding Stonewall, or think they are driven by transphobia. Many PSHE teachers argue that e.g. the Genderbread person doesn't reinforce stereotypes and is therefore dfe compliant. Hell even my Catholic school resources teach gender identity as fact, and CAMHS recommend Stonewall and Mermaid to schools for gender issues.

You don't have to be living under a rock not to know the issues with Stonewall, you just have to live in your own Instagram bubble, as most young teachers do. (And teacher burnout being what it is, most teachers are young).

Most pshe teachers are form tutors who teach it because they have to and they tolerate it at best, hate it at worst. Most will be blissfully unaware of the change of guidance from the dfe.

Spot on MsGoodenough
Until the issues are covered in full by the Guardian BBC news sources that busy teachers read and with the Unions being totally captured (along with the PSHE Association) it's just not on their radar. Too many of them chant the Stonewall / Mermaids mantra and raising it feels scary to older and wiser teachers. Many young teachers have come through universities who have pushed the sacred caste belief for so long that they completely believe it.
I don't believe it will change until the court cases happen - which is dreadful in terms of the wellbeing of children.

@MsGoodenough

Most pshe teachers are form tutors who teach it because they have to and they tolerate it at best, hate it at worst. Most will be blissfully unaware of the change of guidance from the dfe.

Mine are primary and they have to have a specialist pshe lead teach it. And he still can’t get it right, neither can the head and it will be complaints next.

I can’t believe they don’t know why this is happening though. Every teacher and social worker and nurse and so on I know personally know fine well what’s going on.

How can anyone educate children if you aren’t aware of what’s going on in the world, especially things that impact children’s lives and safeguarding?

They can’t ever read the news if they don’t know about this. Even the bare bones links on my iPhone front page to news articles frequently contains ones that are related to trans issues or similar.

@MrsOvertonsWindow

Spot on MsGoodenough Until the issues are covered in full by the Guardian BBC news sources that busy teachers read and with the Unions being totally captured (along with the PSHE Association) it's just not on their radar. Too many of them chant the Stonewall / Mermaids mantra and raising it feels scary to older and wiser teachers. Many young teachers have come through universities who have pushed the sacred caste belief for so long that they completely believe it. I don't believe it will change until the court cases happen - which is dreadful in terms of the wellbeing of children.

Scary? It’s a safeguarding issue. If teachers are scared to speak up about safeguarding they have zero business being anywhere near children.

Being worried that it might make their lives hard or they’ll be thought badly of or worse is a feeble excuse for not speaking up about safeguarding.

It’s no different to all the people who bit their tongues about Savile.

In fact just this evening I've been invited to training run by Stonewall, and we have an LGBT+ club which is led by young teachers who have been on Stonewall training. I do challenge where I can and I am trying to calmly put my point of view across regarding the social transitioning of girls in school, but there are members of staff who would like to see me removed for my views and I can't afford to lose my job. The chances are the Union wouldn't support me if I did.

@MsGoodenough

In fact just this evening I've been invited to training run by Stonewall, and we have an LGBT+ club which is led by young teachers who have been on Stonewall training. I do challenge where I can and I am trying to calmly put my point of view across regarding the social transitioning of girls in school, but there are members of staff who would like to see me removed for my views and I can't afford to lose my job. The chances are the Union wouldn't support me if I did.

If teachers don’t speak up about a safeguarding risk and the worst happens won’t you loose your jobs then too? If school can’t prove they did everything they did to prevent it then they’d be sacrificing someone never mind the reality for the kids involved.

It’s the same as those who kept quiet about Savile.

That is the 2019 guidance - Op look up the Sept 2020 update for more specific guidance on what schools must consider when using external providers.

@MsGoodenough please alert safe schools alliance, sex matters and free speech union.

As well as Andrew Doyle if you can 😆

It is very true about speaking up. You have to be so careful how you word things and risk being accused of trans phobia. Our Head has asked us to refer issues to specific staff who have been trained on not conflating sex/gender. We have, however, affirmed lots of kids, even against their parents will.

I am in regular touch with all of those organisations, both in relation to my own shool and my daughter's. I resent the implication that I am not doing enough. I work 14 hour days for the girls in my care. I also need to pay the bills and care for my daughter occasionally.

@MsGoodenough

In fact just this evening I've been invited to training run by Stonewall, and we have an LGBT+ club which is led by young teachers who have been on Stonewall training. I do challenge where I can and I am trying to calmly put my point of view across regarding the social transitioning of girls in school, but there are members of staff who would like to see me removed for my views and I can't afford to lose my job. The chances are the Union wouldn't support me if I did.

So called 'Gender critical' beliefs are protected in law now, thanks to Maya Forstater. They cannot legally fire you for speaking up. Especially as a PP said if there is a safeguarding issue.

I'm sure there are GC teacher support groups, I'm not a teacher so not sure how you'd go about finding out, but I can make some enquiries if you'd like and PM you?

If of any use, you can contact the DfE direct here:

form.education.gov.uk/service/Contact_the_Department_for_Education

You could use an anonymous email account.

I would say GC views are very much in the minority among teachers. Well there will be those who might be if they thought about it, but the prevailing attitude is affirmation due to the impact on teenagers of doing anything else. It is nothing at all like people standing back watching JS and you won't get any teachers on side by suggesting that.

Thank you Leaf. I feel like I've gone down a rabbit hole with this thread. I am openly GC at work, I am active on the Safe Schools Alliance Facebook group, I have had in depth meetings with my own head and the Head of PSHE at dd's school, I donate more than I can really afford to GC causes, and suddenly I am as bad as the people who kept quiet about Saville because I occasionally pause for breath to consider keeping a roof over my daughter's head.

All I was trying to say was that, to 95% of teachers, Stonewall is not discredited and is still a respected organisation. Now turning my phone off for the night!