Formal Complaint pshe primary

[RedCarpetRebellion]

Name changed (but I’m easy to trace for those of you I’ve pm’d with or replied to before)

Primary academy. Children with autism.

Have spent weeks emailing and meeting with school, after having discussed it all over email when the guidance updated during lockdown.

Thought we had finally had a meeting where it clicked. But nope.

Have used ssa, tt resources, gen respect printed off the dfe guidance etc to talk them through how they breeched it.

(Gender identity, cisgender, pansexual, asexual)

Received a final reply, that shows the head teacher still doesn’t understand it, or is intentionally trying to be as manipulative as possible. It reads like it’s been dictated by academy chain heads, who I trust even less than her. The safeguarding academy lead will know this is coming due to discussions around other issues about my dc.

The head has misunderstood many points brought up, repeatedly on email and at the meeting. So the points she addresses don’t actually address points raised.

However: she says gender identity is in the equality act and that they have to teach it because kids who are in class have families effected by this. No acknowledgement of the many ways in which I patiently explained it’s breeching the guidance and that gender reassignment does not equal gender identity. They acknowledged in the meeting there’s no evidence base.

She claims they aren’t teaching an ideology as fact and that the council advise this and they are the experts in dfe guidance and have verified the curriculum is fit for purpose. And that they are using the dfe accredited PSHE Association.

And recommended the national autism society page on gender identity and autism.

Now that my forehead is bleeding from continually explaining the obvious to people who don’t get it or won’t get it, I think we’ll have to put in formal complaint.

Especially if this is in any way coming from the council, because that makes this worse at secondary, so we need to know how to challenge it now.

Have forwarded it to safe schools alliance, and pm’d them here, but I’m aware that they are busy.

I would definitely want to follow their advice to copy in ofsted.

Any more advice?

Dh is very supportive about formal complaint and would back me 100%, but I’m the one with the greater grasp on all this. So it will be me having to write it again, and any input about the above non points she came back to me with would really help.

I’m sick to my stomach people responsible for safeguarding ignore dfe.

@2fallsagain @BelleOfTheProvince @TalkingtoLangClegintheDark @BoreofWhabylon @EmbarassingHadrosaurous @foxgoosefinch

& everyone else

Tia

Longines has good suggestions to follow before complaining to Ofsted. Asking where the advice came from (and getting names) could find the root of the misleading 'advice.

[quote FindTheTruth]@RedCarpetRebellion complain to Ofsted. I suggest you send your draft compaint to TGT / SSA and the others you've been working with

OFSTED complaint form
contact.ofsted.gov.uk/online-complaints-schools

Complaints about schools
Page 1 of 8

Note: pages 2 to 4 of the form are about consenting to Ofsted sharing the information you provide on pages 6 to 8 where you tell us about your complaint. You can still submit the form even if you do not consent.

You should consider whether it is appropriate for you to raise your concerns formally with the school before submitting this complaint to Ofsted. If, however, you do wish to submit this complaint now then you should be aware that Ofsted may need to contact the school/provider to progress your complaint.

What Ofsted may do with your complaint
Ofsted will review the details of your complaint to identify if there are any wider concerns about the school it may wish to consider further[/quote]
The ofsted pages I read on reporting to them didn’t seem to cover this.

The complaint is that they are refusing to follow dfe pshe guidance. Does that count as something I can report to ofsted?

I will be using the parent feedback form anyways, but I wasn’t sure if it amounts to the criteria ofsted use for parents to complain to them.

If it does please can you point out where? I’d really appreciate that ty!

@FindTheTruth

Longines has good suggestions to follow before complaining to Ofsted. Asking where the advice came from (and getting names) could find the root of the misleading 'advice.

Pshe association they say is ‘endorsed by dfe’ I’ve shown them in person on print outs it isn’t. The national autism society page on gender identity.

And refers to local accredited specialist teachers for training. But doesn’t name them, despite offering herself to get me the names of the trainers when in meeting.

That it came from the council. Who are apparently experienced in the dfe curriculum (literal wording).

@cansu

What on earth are you so upset about? Schools generally try to follow statutory guidance on pshe. There is no political agenda. It seems very odd to be pursuing the school in such a heavy handed way.

I have repeatedly explained very patiently where they aren’t following the guidance. I have given them numerous chances to fix it. Endless resources to help and sat and pointed out the relevant parts of the dfe to them.

But still they won’t fix it. They aren’t trying to follow the guidance. I wish they were!

And the plan, which I have seen, is what they are refusing to fix (gender identity, cisgender, pansexual, asexual-for primary kids).

Assuming this is the plan they decided not to teach already, is the issue now that they are saying they will be teaching this plan after all and they are happy with it as it stands?

Is the purpose of complaining to stop them from teaching the lesson they say they're going to teach imminently?

I don't think there are any PSHE providers endorsed by DfE, that's deliberate I imagine, to ensure schools choose and check they are compliant. The onus is on the school to be certain.

(I forgot which one it was who used the government logo on their materials who were told to remove it, but it's false advertising at best.)

That's a very big claim for the school to make, as there aren't any. Happy to be proven wrong, if there was an official list of government approved providers, everyone would be using them and not picking name out of a hat.

@WonderfulYou

Why not just ask if your child can be removed from PSHE lessons?

Lots of parents do this as they don’t want them knowing about sex Ed and things.

It’s the relationship guidance. No option of withdrawal.

And we don’t want to withdraw dc. We want them to follow the dfe. These are not hard concepts for them to understand, and if they don’t understand then how will children they explain them to.

Whatever the whole class receives will feed back to my dc.

@OhHolyJesus

I don't think there are any PSHE providers endorsed by DfE, that's deliberate I imagine, to ensure schools choose and check they are compliant. The onus is on the school to be certain.

(I forgot which one it was who used the government logo on their materials who were told to remove it, but it's false advertising at best.)

That's a very big claim for the school to make, as there aren't any. Happy to be proven wrong, if there was an official list of government approved providers, everyone would be using them and not picking name out of a hat.

It is. And I showed them the guidance where it says none are endorsed and the letter from dfe to ssa that says it’s schools job to check all resources against the guidance.

@LonginesPrime

And the plan, which I have seen, is what they are refusing to fix (gender identity, cisgender, pansexual, asexual-for primary kids).

Assuming this is the plan they decided not to teach already, is the issue now that they are saying they will be teaching this plan after all and they are happy with it as it stands?

Is the purpose of complaining to stop them from teaching the lesson they say they're going to teach imminently?

This is the plan they’ve said they are teaching.

Although will be clarifying definitions of the latter three later, but keeping gender identity as is because dfe ‘endorsed’ pshe association uses it, the council that are ‘experienced at teaching dfe’ say it’s fine and the national autism society says it’s all good. Despite me showing them all relevant parts of guidance, very patiently and clearly.

I wasn’t sure if it amounts to the criteria ofsted use for parents to complain to them.

Just looked at this (don't know if I've got this right)

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC) does appear in each grade descriptor for the school’s overall effectiveness so it will be inspected by Ofsted. And Ofsted say strong PSHE goes a long way towards providing SMSC and safeguarding
pshe-association.org.uk/news-and-blog/blog-entry/ofsted-blog-striving-good-or-outstanding-pshe

Also, Ofsted emphasise the KEY difference between teaching Equality and promoting any particular sexual orientation to pupils, as the DfE guidance on sex and relationships education clarifies. Gender Identity is not mentioned and even if it falls under belief, is the school promoting gender identity to pupils? It sounds like it from your OP (Gender identity, cisgender, pansexual, asexual)
pshe-association.org.uk/news/regarding-coverage-dfe-position-teaching-about

Also teaching children about even 'Asexual' has led to devastating consequences. There's a detranstitioner story (double masectomy, hair loss, bone loss) that started with hearing the word 'Asexual' and looking into it.

Also you've probably got this and know it inside out by now but DfE clarify that TEACHING is different from PROMOTING
www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

Sorry that’s not clear at all.

I was told that there was no use of outside organisations used for pshe. The policy that’s gone up finally has an added section about visitors coming in that wasn’t in the proposed policy sent for parent consultation last year.

I also have the plan they are using. Given because of other meetings to do with my dc.

The plan includes gender identity (and cisgender, pansexual and asexual) and the meetings have been about this. The email I now have is saying that gender identity is fine to teach because dfe endorsed pshe says so, the national autism society says so and the council say so.

But the are ignoring the dfe insistence at legal terms. Evidence base. Not to teach born in wrong body or enforce stereotypes. The email ignores all these points from the meeting and suggestion that they referenced the term gender reassignment as the law does, and be clear some people believe that. The email just goes on about some kids are questioning their gender as they are figuring out their identity and that gender identity is the right term to teach because ^^ pshe association/council/national autism society.

Hope that’s clearer.

Am full of the cold and tired.

Have you approached IPSEA for any advice regarding what they are saying in relation to Autism? They were brilliant when giving advice on an appeal for DS relating to his ADHD. They may be able to give you some guidance on how to demonstrate indirect discrimination under disability in your complaint letter.

Just go straight to ofsted

Everyone saying just go straight to ofsted- have you done that? Because I can’t see how that’s what ofsted would expect based on their explanation of when to complain to them.

I think I have to use the school complaints procedure.

But I’d listen to others experience to consider, so please add if you’ve done this.

@WonderfulYou

Why not just ask if your child can be removed from PSHE lessons?

Lots of parents do this as they don’t want them knowing about sex Ed and things.

That’s missing the point. This affects all children, not just the OP’s.

@RedCarpetRebellion

Everyone saying just go straight to ofsted- have you done that? Because I can’t see how that’s what ofsted would expect based on their explanation of when to complain to them.

I think I have to use the school complaints procedure.

But I’d listen to others experience to consider, so please add if you’ve done this.

When I’ve looked at this option, I think I established that Ofsted expect you to have made a formal complain to the school. Don’t quote me on that. If you look it up on ofsted i think it explains under what circumstances you can complain to them - eg one of them is if school is not following the complaints procedure.

That’s what I thought. That’s why I was asking, it doesn’t make sense given what I’ve read/what ssa recommend about complaining to school.

The Ofsted website says you need to have followed the school's complaints procedure first.

It also says Ofsted cannot judge how well a school responded to a complaint or mediate between parents and the school.

So I'd follow the school's normal complaints procedure.

Ok, am much calmer after sleep and clear about the content of the complaint, now I’ve thought it through/read back.

Can anyone help me with the claim that gender identity is being taught to help them contextualise something they are required to learn about?

They continually avoid addressing my request for a definition of gender identity, so i can only assume they are going with the standard use from stonewall etc.

But the sentence about contextualising it reads like nonsense.

Can you help me explain why this part breeches guidance? (I know why all the rest of it does, but ‘contextualise’ makes no sense here).

Thank you all

What about also complaining to Local Authority, this would then lead to the Ombudsman. MP also might be useful but I expect your MP is Labour and may be captured. What about the Secretary of State for Education - right to the bloody top. Also local media. May not be helpful but I do hope you get somewhere OP

Can anyone help me with the claim that gender identity is being taught to help them contextualise something they are required to learn about?

We'd need to know exactly what's being said in order to suggest ways to respond - it's all a bit vague to come up with a solid response.

What is it they're actually saying they're going to teach to the pupils?

I don't think it matters that they say the reason is "for context" if they are teaching gender ideology (a belief akin to a religious belief) as a fact to pupils - they shouldn't be teaching this as a fact regardless of what their own reasoning is for doing so.

Also, schools must have regard for the public sector equality duty in the EA2010, which places a duty on schools to promote cohesion between groups with and without protected characteristics (in this case, those who believe in gender ideology and those who don't - both perfectly acceptable positions to take), so it's important to point out how they are breaching this important legal duty by only teaching one doctrine about gender without explaining that others believe something else, and that that's perfectly ok too, provided we all treat each other with respect, etc.

As part of your formal complaint I would make it clear that you have previously complained about this issue of X prior occasions. That this "formal complaint" is because they have failed to resolve the issue and you are box ticking and will be taking it to OFSTED - hope that makes sense.

Can anyone help me with the claim that gender identity is being taught to help them contextualise something they are required to learn about?

'Contextualise' could mean many things depending on the teaching materials and lesson plan.

• teaching about equality, incl. gender reassignment, at an appropriate age, is inline with Ofsted

• teaching gender identities?. Terms like 'Non-binary' do not appear in DfE guidelines

• promoting new sexualities is not required. Terms like 'pansexual' do not appear in DfE guidelines. and 'Promotion' goes against ofsted rules.

• suggesting children look inwards to choose a gender identity goes against DfE and Ofsted guidelines. So lessons which display gender identities and flags for example, could be crossing this line.

A freedom of information request (FOI) to the local authority re what they have told the school on teaching GI, might help uncover what lessons are proposed and therefore what 'contextualise' means.

I agree with your first point @FindTheTruth.

It’s exactly what I suggested to them, that they use the legal definition of gender reassignment and be clear in their definition that some people feel this way/belief this, but that plenty don’t believe in it and a belief doesn’t mean anyone is ever born in the wrong body.

But nope they are insisting on gender identity as pshe association and national autism society use that.

But nope they are insisting on gender identity as pshe association and national autism society use that.

Are you saying that they are insisting on teaching pupils that gender identity is a fact and that every person has a gender identity?

I think it's important to establish exactly what they're planning to teach, because your argument and the EA points you'd want to focus on will be different depending on what they're actually saying.

It's important to keep the focus on how their teaching disadvantages your DC under the EA as opposed to trying to make them do their jobs better all round - I'm not saying don't try, but I do think it's important to be realistic about the outcomes you're looking for here.

While it's obviously helpful for you to know the guidance they're supposed to be following, I would focus on the key points that are problematic and which breach the EA and affect your DC.

Given that they seem to be having problems understanding your points already, I would take the letter as a chance to distil this down into the key legal problems arising from their plan (direct discrimination, indirect discrimination on the basis of disability, breach of PSED, etc etc).

My experience of this kind of thing is that the more issues you introduce, the harder it is for staff (who may already be struggling with how to teach the topic) to focus on what they need to do to resolve it. If they are already struggling to grasp the issues, I think you need to be very specific about your concerns if you want them to actually change things.