Oh arse: primary school staff briefing refers staff to mermaids

[ServantofthePeople]

I have a long term role in a primary school and see the staff briefing.
This week the briefing alerts us that some children are identifying as other gender and therefore using other loos.

That’s not my issue as it’s not my call. My issue is that the briefing recommends staff view the “excellent” website mermaidsuk.

I feel duty bound to say something about the mermaids recommendation. My understanding is that this is a political lobby group. There have also been safeguarding concerns raised I think.

I follow these boards fairly regularly but not daily/weekly.

I would be very grateful if people with experience could give me some starters/prompts. I’m hoping to get some up to date info and also some thoughts about “what works” re schools/governors.

Thanks in advance.

“it's really hard when you first come across this to work out what the key points are”

It is, I respect those involved.

Ok perhaps what I need to do is point out that

1 M is a political lobbying group
2 staff reading the briefing may have opposing views which are represented by eg safe schools alliance. Those opposing beliefs are protected in law.
3 therefore I think we have inadvertently pointed to a political lobbying group as though it was a neutral authority.

1. As pointed out in the Cass review interim report social transition (as enabled by the school) is not a neutral act?

I think your briefer points are actually better than an essay as an opener.
The Cass report is going to be the significant resource going forward. I think many organisations need to pause and wait for the full report.

Thanks Beamur,

Is Cass the name of the judge?
Any idea when final report due?

cass.independent-review.uk/

Dr Cass is the paediatrician leading the review.

Transgender Trend is another organisation that offer a different perspective to mermaids. Might be good for balance...

www.transgendertrend.com/about_us/

Agree that your brief points are a great place to start, and that pointing to the Cass review gives you a chance to highlight how things are changing very quickly. This gives a way for whoever wrote the briefing to back away from a recommendation without losing face. The interim report of the Cass review, (really worth reading!) was only published in March.

Out of interest OP, why do you feel you can query the connection with Mermaids and not the fact of the toilets being changed to mixed-sex?

To make your point that they are a political lobby group you can point to their statement today. I think this is a shockingly hyperbolic and inflammatory response to what's going on in relation to proposed legislation, even by their standards.

“To make your point that they are a political lobby group you can point to their statement today. I think this is a shockingly hyperbolic and inflammatory response to what's going on in relation to proposed legislation, even by their standards”

Great idea!

“Out of interest OP, why do you feel you can query the connection with Mermaids and not the fact of the toilets being changed to mixed-sex? ‘

I’m neither a teacher nor a parent. I feel my role is to point out that info is being presented as unbiased when it isn’t. They can then make better decisions.

Also - it’s one thing to express your view if it’s the beginning of a campaign but it isn’t - I’m going to “say one thing” then stop. I think that will have more impact.

“Agree that your brief points are a great place to start, and that pointing to the Cass review gives you a chance to highlight how things are changing very quickly. This gives a way for whoever wrote the briefing to back away from a recommendation without losing face. “

Yes, that’s how I want to approach.
They do know something about my background which will give me more credibility but that’s a card you can only play once.....

What is the name of the school?

@ServantofthePeople That sounds like a smart approach! Giving them a thread to pull at and see if they can unravel it themselves.

Very best of luck to you.

This might be helpful though, and move it into a context where you might feel you do have more grounds to act... Do find out what guidance they're following.

The school may be following a 'trans inclusion toolkit' - a template document provided by a trans advocacy charity which has been adopted pretty much 'off the shelf' in a number of council areas. These have since been withdrawn in quite a few areas following legal challenges. eg this one in Oxfordshire - challenged on toilets and this one in Rhondda Cynon Taf - social transition without parental consent

The toolkits recommend a list of organisations, including Mermaids, GIRES, Stonewall, Gendered Intelligence etc (but not Safe Schools Alliance, Sex Matters or Transgender Trend or Genspect surprise surprise...)

These toolkits put schools in a very difficult situation because they strongly imply that they're legally bound to treat a child as if they were the opposite sex if they declare that they are trans, and are given to schools as guidance which has been approved at council level, maybe following a process that involved consulting some lobbying orgs (well, they're the experts, aren't they?!), some trans children and no-one else. They misrepresent the law, fail to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty (prioritising one protected characteristic and disregarding the others) and create enormous safeguarding risks (mixed sex dormitories on school trips?, mixed sex rugby?). If the school is following such a policy, your best bet may be to look at how you can challenge it at the council level.
Safe Schools Alliance have a template letter.

Sex matters have a clear guide to the law in this area

Thank you