Stonewall award - primary school

[EqualityGovernor]

I originally posted in Education as I wanted to get a broader view on this (in case I was being oversensitive), but responses there have led me back to this board!

I am a primary school governor at my children's school, with a special responsibility for ED&I.

The school has a genuinely diverse staff, and I'm confident that equality, diversity and inclusion runs through their entire curriculum. Over the last two years, the school has completed awards with EqualiTeach and Rainbow Flag. I have looked at both of these in some detail and am confident that the quality is appropriate, useful and being applied day-to-day.

In next year's goals, the school has said they would like to get a Stonewall award and this set off alarm bells with me.

There have been some excellent replies on the Education board talking about how I need to consider why Stonewall on top of the equality awards we already have (my preference would be to go for the next step - e.g. deepening a silver or gold in Equaliteach etc.)

In order to build an unbiased business case I need to make a case:

a) Why it would benefit us to deepen and apply existing knowledge (I can do this)
b) Why Stonewall is not the route to take. I need to keep this factual. I need to keep it away from my opinions (e.g. "I worry that it undermines girls having their own spaces" wouldn't be an ideal argument as it's very theoretical, but "There are serious safeguarding concerns with Stonewall as raised by this court case here" would be a lot more persuasive.

As the ED&I governor, I absolutely cannot be seen to be being anything less than inclusive (nor would I be naturally), so arguments absolutely need to be factual and highlight actual concerns / actual things that have happened, rather than theoretical worries.

The school already has unisex toilets (as many new-build schools do). I have already raised concerns with this and concerns have been dismissed (separate issue, I know), there is also limited provision for menstruating girls. Again, concerns have not been taken on board.

The school has a very male-dominated, though absolutely well-meaning and skilled leadership team. Not intentionally sexist, but a few blind spots (in my opinion). I need to tread carefully and be collaborative rather than confrontational.

Can anyone point me to resources that would help me make my case?

The current case brought by Alison Bailey against her Chambers and Stonewall might be a good place to start. At the very least any sensible organisation should be waiting to see how the case pans out before jumping in with stonewall

Have you seen the Safe Schools Alliance website?

safeschoolsallianceuk.net/schools-resources-and-policies/

I've lost sight of what 'inclusion' actually means in this. Equality is of course necessary and diversity is certainly desirable where achievable.

But what is meant by 'inclusion'? Because the dominant narrative appears to be including males in spaces and services meant for females. Inclusion of males to make single sex spaces become mixed sex will lead to the exclusion of some females. Whose rights trump whose? (No need to answer that, I already know)

Sorry, didn't answer your question!
I'd agree with Safe Schools Alliance and also SexMatters with Transgender Trend have produced schools guidance.

If you have good EDI policies in place, what os to be gaied by adding Stonewall's award?

Unfortunately I think this will go on for as long as ‘inclusion’ of males in female spaces and vice versa is seen as the default moral position. Sex segregation (in appropriate circumstances) is a thing for a reason.

But if you want objective issues with a connection with Stonewall:

• reputational risk of associating with an organisation that has had a visible and controversial break with government
• likelihood of a conflict between Stonewall positions and EHRC guidance
• fact that the Dept for Education left Stonewall

There is also the matter of balance. Getting a stonewall sticker takes hours of time and form filling. What about the disabled families, or the neuro diverse families, or the ethnic minority families, will equal effort be paid to their protected characteristics? If not, that is not very inclusive

What about the costs involved? All those hours of form filling should be included into final figure. If school budgets are so tight how can they justify this?

Most people think that 'inclusion' means being welcoming to people who have been poorly treated and who actually belong in the group they wish to be included in. But this has been extended in ways which almost means that anybody must now be included (but only by women) if they ask for inclusion, even if they don't belong in the group they demand should admit them.

The queer theory is the mother (birthing person) for this concept. What 'inclusion' can mean in that context is quite frightening when we apply this to the current debacle. But I don't know how many activists apply the queer theory concept here.

This Equality Governor. Take a professional approach.
How much time and £££ has been devoted to the other relevant protected characteristics? Ask for (or provide) the data - attainment, bullying, emotional health and well being? (off the top of my head).
Has the school completed audits to confirm that LGBT issues are the main priority for your primary children? How does this manifest itself in the school? Are there no issues in relation to race that need addressing? Have the governors school examined the the data broken down into different groups ? What does that tell you about the children's needs? What about religion and sex?

What are the bullying issues? Which groups feature as "victims / bullies? What's the profile of children with SEN? No bullying? Attainment exceeding expectations? What do parental complaints tell you about the school?

If your school is spending even more time on this, they need to be certain that LGBT problems are the prime cause of underachievement, bullying, poor social cohesion etc etc. Otherwise how does it benefit the children?

Not sure if this helps your organisation but I consider stonewall to be a hate organisation and would not want my children at any school which embraces their anti-female inequality stance. I want actual inclusion.

I was going to say what MrsOvertonsWindow says so well. What about all the other protected characteristics as well as gender reassignment? Because let's be realistic here, Stonewall is about the T, not the L, the G or the B.

How much time, effort and resources are going into equalling the push for Stonewall badges for all the other areas?

Is your school 100% disabled-friendly, everything available in large print or Braille, all school performances signed for Deaf parents, every part of the school totally accessible for physical disabilities? Is all the school material available in multiple languages - including making the website and policies available in every language spoken by parents?

Is there are provision for neurodiverse children in the school? Are all races and religions celebrated equally? Are female staff who may be going through menopause being supported adequately?

THESE are the EDI issues that actually impact upon the school community, not trans rubbish issues.

This is all great, thank you so much. I will have a google to see what other badges and gongs are available for different protected characteristics. If anyone knows of any, I'd be glad to hear (already aware of UNICEF's award).

MrsOverton's post is spot on.

I would think that if the governing board could not demonstrate that money spent on one protected characteristic did not a) meet an identified need within the school population or b) that the same amount of time and money had been spent on all other protected characteristics then they would be on dodgy ground and potentially even open to accusations of discrimination against the other protected characteristics (especially if there were needs elsewhere that weren't being addressed).

I'd be wary OP of badges and gongs for schools. Sadly schools (and the rest of the world) are being sold the idea that rainbow washed glitter awards (that are mainly irrelevant to children, their learning and emotional health and wellbeing) are the solution to inclusion. It's far from the truth and mainly a distraction from the school's core purpose - to ensure that best possible attainment and development of all children.
Find out what the needs of all your children are and what's not being addressed. There will be issues - you just have to spot them

Sexuality is the main remit of Stonewall nowadays. Any sexuality (except for homosexuality that is transphobic), including asexuals and every kink under the +
primary school kids need a filter for safeguarding issues and age appropriate, that respect all children.

Not entangling sex and gender is crucial at this tender age.

transgender trend, safe schools, sex matters etc are very good points.

for facts on Stonewall twisting the law and it’s pyramid scheme you can listen to the Steven Nolan files on Stonewall, plenty there.