D of E mandatory school census conflates sex and gender and asks for gender as a changeable status and a matter of the parent or child’s choice

[ScrollingLeaves]

This came up on another thread.

Complete the school census - Data items 2021 to 2022 - Guidance - GOV.UK

www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-school-census/data-items-2021-to-2022

Gender

We need this data for both on and off roll pupils.

The gender of the pupil in the format of ‘M’ (male) or ‘F’ (female).

Gender should be self-declared and recorded according to the wishes of the parent and / or pupil.

Individuals are free to change the way their gender is recorded.

As far as I can make out, this means that:

there will be ambiguity about whether it is the sex or chosen gender of the child being recorded.

gender is seen as a matter of choice and changeable but there is no separate c
record for the permanent sex mentioned

the Department of Education which is in charge of our children’s education either does not know, or refuses to acknowledge, the meaning of ‘male’ and ‘female’.

I want to write to Nadim Zahawi. Has anyone any ideas of what to add? Or, please correct me if I’ve misunderstood.

Oh this came up at the sex matters event yesterday. The barrister said that the census was recorded as sex, looks like this is a change in guidance.

Additionally, this school census, in asking for a ‘chosen’ gender potentially sets up a path of ‘affirmation’, at a very young age.

Am I right in thinking that the preliminary Cass report has said that affirmation is not neutral?

This is very foolish.

GrabbyGabby · Today 19:52
Oh this came up at the sex matters event yesterday. The barrister said that the census was recorded as sex, looks like this is a change in guidance.

Was the barrister referring to the School Census rather than the general census? You’d think the barrister would know. I have just checked again though and the guidance definitely says it it has been updated 2022.

I’ll try to find the actual form.

Deffo the school census, talking about it potentially forming paet of legal action should the school transition a child without parental consent. I will let them know

achillestoes · Today 19:56
This is very foolish

I am presuming you mean my views on this. Please will you explain why? You may be right, but I am looking for all arguments.

Have written to sex matters on this. It is all kinds of bonkers.

If you must record sex AND gender identity. Dont conflate the two, and if you only do one go for sex, it is immutable and binary. Much better data to work with.

GrabbyGabby · Today 20:22
Have written to sex matters on this. It is all kinds of bonkers.

If you must record sex AND gender identity. Dont conflate the two, and if you only do one go for sex, it is immutable and binary. Much better data to work with.

It will be very interesting to know what they say, especially the barrister. Thank you.

She was referring to the Register, which isn't the same thing. That has to contain the sex of the pupil. It's in The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. All schools have to keep a register of all pupils admitted, unless they are deregistered by parents or by leaving the school for a different one/because they are school leaving age. And that register must be by sex.

New education minister (as of tonight) is Michelle Donelan.

It asks for gender. It doesn't mention sex. It doesn't mention gender identity.

perfectstorm · Today 22:38

“GrabbyGabby · Today 19:52
Oh this came up at the sex matters event yesterday. The barrister said that the census was recorded as sex, looks like this is a change in guidance.”

ScrollingLeaves
“Was the barrister referring to the School Census rather than the general census? You’d think the barrister would know. I have just checked again though and the guidance definitely says it it has been updated 2022
I’ll try to find the actual form.”

She was referring to the Register, which isn't the same thing. That has to contain the sex of the pupil. It's in The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006. All schools have to keep a register of all pupils admitted, unless they are deregistered by parents or by leaving the school for a different one/because they are school leaving age. And that register must be by sex.

Thank you for that clarification perfectstorm.
In that case do you happen to know why the census is filled out using a different definitiion? (It doesn’t seem to mean simply gender as a euphemism for sex given the element or choice, it saying it can change.)

This is really shocking. All kinds of stats are sorted by boy girl, and for very good reasons.

This will have been through A LOT of civil servants and working groups, including, I would have thought specialist statisticians within the DfE. I knew plenty of the policy lot were captured, but it seems it’s the whole sorry mess of a department.

This will yield garbage data.

Also, it’s basically an instruction to schools to ask all pupils or their parents what gender the child is. WTAF

So the law requires schools to record pupils' sex on the register, but their sex on the annual school census. Meanwhile, about 80% of UK schools manage pupil data using a management information system called SIMS (Schools Information Management System), which has no field for pupils' sex; only for their gender. It seems very unlikely that many schools are currently able to fulfill their legal obligations. I don't think anyone has thought this through.

Abitofalark · Today 22:45
It asks for gender. It doesn't mention sex. It doesn't mention gender identity.

The gender of the pupil in the format of ‘M’ (male) or ‘F’ (female).

Gender should be self-declared and recorded according to the wishes of the parent and / or pupil.

Individuals are free to change the way their gender is recorded.

It asks for ‘gender’ and sometimes these days ‘gender’ is used to mean sex. As it has ‘M’ (male) or ‘F’ (female) you’d think that might be the case.

However, as it also goes on to say, “Gender should be self-declared and recorded according to the wishes of the parent and / or pupil.”
and
”Individuals are free to change the way their gender is recorded.”
this makes it seem as though they are referring to ‘gender’ not as sex but as a gender identity - because how could you self-declare your sex according to wishes, or change the way sex is recorded ?

hallouminatus - 23:05

So the law requires schools to record pupils' sex on the register, but their sex on the annual school census.

Am I right in thinking you meant sex on the register, but gender on the annual school census?

EthelbertaChickerel · Today 22:42
New education minister (as of tonight) is Michelle Donelan.

Do you know anything about her?

Nadhim Zahawi had at least said:

A woman is an adult human female. My favourite subject at school was human biology. It’s a straightforward answer.

Yes, sorry

Donelan spoke up against the bullying of Kathleen Stock.
“I would like to put on the record that I too was absolutely horrified with what has happened in regards to Professor Stock who has had to resign due to harassment, sustained harassment and bullying. This cannot be tolerated on our campuses, that is why this Government is delivering a free speech and academic freedom bill that will ensure that universities not only protect free speech but promote free speech.”
www.gbnews.uk/news/education-minister-horrified-as-professor-steps-down-after-trans-rights-row/151668

hallouminatus · Today 23:41
Donelan spoke up against the bullying of Kathleen Stock.

“I would like to put on the record that I too was absolutely horrified with what has happened in regards to Professor Stock who has had to resign due to harassment, sustained harassment and bullying. This cannot be tolerated on our campuses, that is why this Government is delivering a free speech and academic freedom bill that will ensure that universities not only protect free speech but promote free speech.”
www.gbnews.uk/news/education-minister-horrified-as-professor-steps-down-after-trans-rights-row/151668

Thank you, hallouminatus, that is a good sign.

This guidance must have been changed at some point. It's obviously a 'queering' of the census. The simple correct instruction should be as shown on birth certificate if the word gender is used on the Register. It must be expected that they would both be on the same page. It is a deliberate attempt to subvert policies.

It would be interesting to track it back and hold the civil servants who wrote and signed this off disciplined.

Yet another example of the dangers of a captured civil service. It's exhausting seeing this corruption of the law and statistics being repeatedly carried out with no democratic consent.

This still hasn't changed on the guidance for Summer 2023.

There was a thread on here about new guidance for 23/24 but I can't find it now. Hopefully it will change from September 23.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 06/07/2022 08:00

...this corruption of the law and statistics being repeatedly carried out with no democratic consent.

That is the nail hit firmly on the head.