Son's primary school has a Stonewall certificate

[Anxiouscat]

I noticed it in reception when picking him up. I want to ask them what their involvement is without coming across like a raging homophobe, since they probably perceive Stonewall as a positive and inclusive LGBT organisation. Has anyone else been in this position? Any tips?

I'd do a bit of digging first. Have a look at the school's website and see whether their equality guidance, their SRE guidelines and their pastoral guidance follow the DfE guidelines or Stonewall's personal version of the law? Do they reference dodgy groups like Mermaids? Is the language accurate sex based or gender woowoo nonsense?
This guidance for schools from Sex Matters is helpful:
sex-matters.org/posts/updates/schools-guidance/

As is the Safe Schools Alliance website with their section on how to talk to schools:
safeschoolsallianceuk.net/schools-resources-and-policies/

Hope this helps.

I know it's not so easy to change schools in the UK, but I would seriously think about it.

It’s possible that a very enthusiastic member of staff has taken it on and most of the staff aren’t paying much attention.

if it’s an academy school then it might well be an employee of the academy trust rather than teaching staff.

is it a diversity champions award? What level? Did it have the year on it?

(The answer to those questions might be on the website)

It’s possible that a very enthusiastic member of staff has taken it on and most of the staff aren’t paying much attention

I understood that subscribing to Stonewall costs serious money, but am happy to be corrected.

Oh it does cost! You are absolutely right there.

but large academy trusts can likely negotiate discounts for signing up multiple schools, so individual primary school teachers and even headteachers/governors might not know much about the scheme nor have signed off on the budget for it.

it only takes a couple of really enthusiastic staff members to get entire orgs signed up to these things - beware of volunteers, basically.

Up until recently Stonewall had such a good reputation that most busy people wouldn’t have questioned it if a colleague had said ‘don’t worry, just say yes and I’ll take on all the legwork’

Some schools will leave dusty old posters up having walked past so many times they’ve ceased to notice them, which is why it’s worth checking the date on any award certificates on display.

my daughter’s secondary was a Stonewall Bronze but it’s lapsed now and it’s a lot easier to go in saying ‘hey, I noticed you had signed up to x in the past - I hope you’ve seen the recent news and won’t be renewing’ than it is to convince a still enthusiastic, currently participating trubeliever.

Both situations should be addressed but gathering info up first and tailoring your strategy is usually worthwhile!

It's also worth keeping an eye out for the existence of safeguarding busting Stonewall / LGBT groups. Sadly they do exist in a number of schools but I have heard of parents asking the school when the groups for heterosexual children are being run, which teachers / older children will be involved in discussing sex and sexuality with children below the age of consent and whether other marginalised groups will be catered for - pick your fetish / otherkin / bdsm / furry group as you deem appropriate

That seems to get schools thinking a little. 🙄