I'm going to be 'that' parent - re school policy omitting 'sex' in favour of gender

[elfycat]

I should have looked at the policy before now (have checked multiple policies in the local area) but the Secondary school DD1 attends has listed gender on the list of protected characteristics and not sex.

So I guess I have to contact them. I've found a copy of the DoE departmental guidance for schools ( listing sex correctly ) to quote. But this is the first letter of this kind I have written.

For anyone who has previously brought this kind of error to the attention of policy makers, what advice can you give me on what to include.

I was thinking of addressing it along the lines of -

I was looking shit up on your website
I noted that your shit wasn't right
Here's the DoE guidance on your shit
I would expect this error will be dealt with swiftly, 'coz it's an Act... like a law, right?
Could you please let me know the timetable you have for governors looking at policy shit, so I can keep my beady eye on ya.

Does that look about right for the paragraphs?

(now going to relook at other policies in local services)

Good for you! And that structure sounds fine.

Do come back and let us know what their response is.

Sounds perfect!

I wouldn't use the word shit but apart from that it's fine

Be that parent because you are in the right and I bet you’re not the only one. Good letter.

Well no, not on the FIRST letter obviously. I'd save that for if they don't sort it. I have another 5 school years to go.

I started looking up their SEND policies as DD2 is about to get a SALT diagnosis with a language and fluency disorder, and I wanted to check any hurdles I might have there. Then I sneaked into Bullying, as DD2 has been bullied because of her speech issues, before going into Equalities. I quite like reading policies.

I should add DD2 was bullied at the primary school. This school does seem to have a handle on those things, and has a very good general reputation in the area.

Back in the day I made one or two comments to the school about this and that.

Ended up being asked about, and accepted, becoming a school governor, as quote "I was interested in education, wasn't I?"

What date is the policy due for review?

The response you'll probably get is we'll update it on the next review.

There seems to have been annual minor revisions, though the last one was only 4 months ago. I might say as they've misquoted government legislation I would expect a reasonably swift amendment to bring the policy in line with the Act they've misquoted.

Do you think I should say that I would expect to see this change before the end of the year?

We're all having to be "that parent" until schools get their act together and start centring children's needs rather than adult activist demands. And they don't get to change the law because they don't like the language - so no delaying until a review.
Well done OP.

Yes OP - their policies are held online so it needs to be immediate - it's incorrect, not a debate about semantics.

When you respond, it would be good for you to have in mind that as far as the misrepresentation of the EA2010 goes, sometimes "gender" is mistaken for "sex" and sometimes it's mistaken for "gender reassignment".

It would be useful to distinguish between these two definition.

I’s pin them down by saying something like ‘I’m sure that as this is reflecting an incorrect position under existing law, you will correct this as soon as possible. I’d appreciate if you could let me know when this correction has been made. “

I’d, not I’s. Sigh.

I think schools are still on their arses from Covid and are struggling daily to find adequate supply cover.

Depends on who your chair of governors is and what the school priorities are, and how close the headteacher is to quitting as they're exhausted with the last two years, as to how quickly this is dealt with. Small changes to a policy take hours of work before they get to be agreed in a governors meeting.

Small changes to a policy take hours of work before they get to be agreed in a governors meeting.

Misquoting an Act of Parliament shouldn't need to be discussed , just immediately rectified.

They have listed gender reassignment, sexual orientation, and 'gender' where sex should be. So gender reassignment is correctly listed and is not the error.

They've even listed marriage and civil partnership, though as the school only goes up to Y11 the number of pupils this could impact is miniscule.

I used resources and a letter template from Safe Schools Alliance. I informed them that they had misrepresented the Equality Act and could they update it.
Letter 7 I think
safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/letter-templates/

I also sent them the Red Flags Factsheet number 13
safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/factsheets/

Don't worry about being that parent. Schools have our children for over 6 hours a day they need to have their policies reflecting the law. It does amaze me though how many organisation change the protected characteristic of sex to gender. Can you imagine changing race or religion to something else. Though to be fair if the school has been Stonewalled or similar it is a given.

This - the more of us that do it the better.

Thanks for this thread. Just checked my DD and DS school policies online and (lo and behold) they list them the EA2010 characteristics adjusted with "sex" substituted for "gender". They don't mention "age" at all.

On the plus side the old references on their web pages to Mermaids do seem to have been expunged.

Downloading template 7....

Oh wow, seriously counting our blessings that in our very non trendy backwater this has still not really hit yet - school promote that you should be who you want to be, and if you’re not sure that’s totally fine but use staff loos (why should everyone else be uncomfortable to accommodate you? And to be honest most would rather the extra privacy for the staff facilities whoever you are!) and if you’re over 16 no, you can’t compete in sports matches (though you can very happily join in practices etc). Basic common sense & biology - how much more nuts can this country (& a pretty select few others!) get🤷🏼‍♀️

Love this thread <goes off to check policies on websites of DCs’ secondary schools>

I did this. Both schools I raised it with had used templates provided from elsewhere, both changed it to ‘sex’ as I requested. One, which was an academy, raised it within the academy and all their school changed it too.

Honestly, knowing a few of the girls in DD’s year who are currently defining as male, I don’t think protecting these children from further abuse is a bad thing, however it is written.