Jigsaw PSHE resources

[HHH3]

Just looking through DS2’s primary school website at their PSHE policies. They are using the Jigsaw PSHE resources.

Does anyone have any thoughts/experience about these. It’s only really an overview so I can’t tell exactly how the LGBT+ stuff is taught.

For info, DS2 is autistic so he’s likely to take things very literally.

I echo this. Let us know if you need support.

I think if your DCs school is still teaching the Robert(a) Cowell lesson they're using an out of date version of Jigsaw. The updated version of this lesson uses Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner as examples. It talks about biological sex before gender identity.

There is also a leaflet called "How does Jigsaw approach gender identity?" But the version I found when I googled references the old RC lesson rather than the update.

That's at odds with the Jigsaw leaflet I just mentioned which says "At Jigsaw we, of course, understand the difference between 'sex' and 'gender' and adopt the World Health Organisation distinction" and later says, with specific reference to the RC lesson, "At no point does Jigsaw relay a 'wrong body' narrative."

I don't know how Jigsaw explain the case of R Cowell without using the wrong body narrative. What else would you say to explain the reason for transitioning? To say this historical figure felt their body was at odds with an inner sense of self still indicates that there was a belief that their body wrong.

Any further explanation of feeling like a woman or preferring to cross dressing is always based on stereotypes, which again can't be used under guidance, it's not possible to teach gender ideology without stereotypes and as anything other than a belief, a personal one, or a general one followed by many, so it's much closer to a religion.

Even with updated lesson plans from Jigsaw they have a history of not being clear and truthful. For example they claimed to be endorsed by DofE (front page of their documents). The DofE doesn't endorse any PSHE/RSE provider, that's partly, IMO, why we are in this mess as of there was an approved list for schools they would haven't to spend the time they don't have finding decent providers. Because they don't have the time we end up with the not so decent ones in schools, in lessons and in our children's learning.

I have told the HT that if my child comes home from school with the words "born in the wrong body" then I will be disappointed raging.

The school I’m at won’t allow me to see the material (we are pushing). And apparently the law was changed in September 2020, which DISALLOWS parents to remove them from PSHE lessons and forces a change in the curriculum for mandatory “Gender Stereotyping”… at 7yrs! I found out that one lesson the teacher asked the children to discuss, “should it be ok for boys to wear dresses”?!? Needless to say this coupled with the schools refusal to allow us access to the materials and the mandatory nature of the new curriculum is ringing alarm bells for us. What are they hiding???

I read through all their policies, looked at their head honchos' fingers in pies and chatted to class teacher. It all seems age appropriate and fact based and as a gc parent I wasnt worried. Have a yr3 dd.

And now Ive rtft and am off to chop my typing hand off.

I think addressing gender stereotyping is good. If it's okay for boys to wear dresses then a boy wearing a dress isnt a challenge to their sex. They are still a boy. In a dress.
If you lock down the box of what a boy and girl can do, look like, be interested in, thats when people think they arent the 'right' sex.

Indeed OP. It's always a relief to see that a school is balanced and appropriate around gender issues. Most teachers (when they're not bullied by trans activist unions / colleagues) understand the need for balance and of course we need to gently explore these issues with children in an age appropriate way. It's great that parents are speaking out as that's what will impact on schools tempted to go buy into Stonewall / queer theory / porn advocating groups.

I haven’t heard anything from my DC about gender from Jigsaw, but I do know they have a rather worrying session on “secrets” in KS1 where they are taught that good friends keep secrets when asked…

I think the learning objective of this lesson is to understand that there are two types of secrets: ones that are ok to keep like birthday presents and surprise parties, and "worry secrets", "which should always be shared with a trusted adult.

Jigsaw are very protective of their resources like any commercial curriculum provider. Their resources and lesson plans are their product so they're not going to publish it all online for free, and that's the same for any business that provides lesson planning and resources.

Some schools are a bit slack about Jogsaw's rules though so if you Google "Jigsaw knowledge organisers" it's not hard to find an overview by unit of work and yeargroup.

And apparently the law was changed in September 2020

Who on Earth said that? The Education Act is here.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/contents

I recommend reading Chapters III and IV (particularly points 403-408 on sex education and political indoctrination).

There have been no updates to this law since 2011.

The guidance changed in 2020 and schools are actively encouraged to engage with parents, with tips on how to do this.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/engaging-parents-with-relationships-education-policy

If someone says such a broad and incorrect statement they really must evidence this and everyone in an education setting should read in full new government guidance which is anticipated soon.

@OhHolyJesus they haven’t done it by changing the Education act. They have done it by changing the Children and Families Act.

My 10 year old school uses Jigsaw, she hasn't come home saying anything worrying. However due to the cultural and societal make-up of the school I am not sure that gender stuff is seen as a priority. So I couldn't say that it is because the Jigsaw material is ok, or because it just isn't dwelled upon.

Further to the tip to google Knowledge organiser Jigsaw if you then look for a school in Surrey by the name St B... it will take you to some very useful links.

I just don't want to link direct on here.

I'd be grateful if you could point me to the update where the change to parental rights was made as I would like to take a look.

Changing one law to stop parents from having access to sex education materials whilst another allows it and guidance pretty much insists upon it, creates a conflict in law.

I'm aware that amendment 171F to the schools bill is currently withdrawn

bills.parliament.uk/bills/3156/stages/16474/amendments/10000409

...and that Clare Page aims to legally challenge the ICO decision where access to specific sex education materials was refused under 'commercial interest'.

www.crowdjustice.com/case/transparency-in-schools-foi-ap/

@OhHolyJesus this is very valuable thank you. I am also watching the schools bill amendment. I did wonder if the change to the alternative act created legal conflict because they are both statutes. Give me a couple of days I will dig out the detail of which clause/section etc... To be clear these changes don't stop access to material, they remove parent's ability to withdraw children from Relationships Education, coupled with structure local government enforcement of set material. They have also removed the coverage of the equality Act from education. Which means the religious beliefs protected characteristic can no longer be used as a way to withdraw students from conflicting ideology education. However, faith schools still have control over the PSHE and RE topics their children are taught, which does create a clear discrimination between groups of differing faiths or none.

I have a meeting with the school I am preparing for tomorrow and based upon the impromptu pre-meeting last week, I think I have persuaded them to show them on a computer screen.

Thank you Clare's crowd funding, I had been looking for that, I'm watching her case with interest. I hope we can keep in touch? I'm also planning on further action. Because all these pieces together do show he clear structured attempt to force certain ideologies into schools from primary level upwards.

I do have excerpts of worrying material from this article below (year 6 Primary). It's about transgender and transitioning. I have seen the material here:

www.conservativesforwomen.org/jigsaw-presents-gender-ideology-to-schoolchildren

I have seen the Sunday Times Interview with Roberta Cowell on 12th March 1978 and the article from the independant in 2013, where most of the quotes and the text from the Jigsaw material come from (respectively). And it clearly demonstrates that Jigsaw have deliberately removed aspects of Roberta Cowells views to make the jigsaw material biased towards transgender lifestyles. After only 30 minutes of research, it's clear that the jigsaw material is biassed and skewed. This is clear example of indoctrination.

@21stCenturyProblems

To be clear these changes don't stop access to material, they remove parent's ability to withdraw children from Relationships Education, coupled with structure local government enforcement of set material.

I understand now, that makes sense. You cannot withdraw your child from mandatory RSE/PSHE but I suspect if it were necessary, arguments could be found and negotiations made, particularly if the content of the lessons didn't align with family values, but it's an interesting point as is the difference between faiths schools and other non-denominational schools being able to maintain their own curriculum on this subject. That's a good point.

I'd be very happy to stay in touch on this, either here or feel free to DM me.

There is a lot happening in this area of education, politically speaking, (I find Parents Against Gender Ideology In Our Schools in you tube very informative) and it's important I think for parents to know what their children will be told and taught at school.

Good luck with your meeting and let us know how it goes!

Just flagging up that Jigsaw has updated this lesson so it doesn't reference Cowell any more. It now has two more contemporary examples (Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner)

Thanks @OhHolyJesus and @MrsFButton more invaluable updates. I do agree it doesn’t matter if their material is updated, their agenda has already been revealed and a lack
of critical assessment is now evident in their material.

But 🙏 this new info will help me for my meeting.

In Roberta’s Sunday Times Interview she states she is XX chromosome and this was certified by a doctor. She then goes on to say for this reason before transition she was a “freak” and the medical intervention put things right. She follows this up by calling all those who follow her transition but have XY chromosomes are really freaks and she denounces the transgender “permissive” society. I don’t call anyone freaks, these are her own words. This is omitted from the jigsaw materials. Instead they paint her has having an “amazing life”. Despite the fact that she suffered war time atrocities and severe depression. My research later reveals that she met another transgender man, FTM called Michael Dillon (nee Laura). Who’s was a doctor. They had a relationship, Laura/Michael carried out the transition operation on Roberta during their relationship, and then Roberta Left Laura/Michael, and withdrew from society. What Jigsaw calls an amazing transgender life, was really a life of war, severe mental Illness, medical legal & ethics infringements, Co-dependent relationships and an isolated lonely death.

I also agree that regardless of examples used their ideological agenda is clear.

Jenner has had rumours circulating of wearing daughter/wife's underwear (daughter found underwear and suspected an affair). Cox has been mentioned on these boards before - from being nominated for a women-only award to speeches supporting male prisoners in women-only prisons. Both are not without their own history which I strongly suspect will not be mentioned as neither are age-appropriate for primary school children.

Also, both are Americans who live by American laws and are known from popular culture. Jenner is most known for Olympic medals won when known as Bruce.

Prompted by this chat I've looked at the guidance from DfE on statutory relationships and health education.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

Now I may be wrong, because I'm a lazy skim-reader, but I can't find any reference to gender identity in the sections that set out what should be taught by the end of primary school. In the secondary section it says it should be taught, amongst a host of other things, in an "age-appropriate" way.

I may be wrong, but if the guidance doesn't mention teaching gender identity in primary then presumably that means it's non statutory. If taught, the school is going beyond government requirements for statutory relationships education. So presumably there is a parental right to withdraw because it's not statutory?

Also found this document

www.gov.uk/guidance/plan-your-relationships-sex-and-health-curriculum#deciding-what-to-teach-at-primary-and-secondary-level

which says in regard to deciding what to teach, when:

Use your knowledge of your pupils to choose whether to:

introduce secondary requirements in primary with pupils who are ready (with parental consultation and consent)

(My underlining)
If I've read it right that gender identity isn't required to be taught until secondary, then the quote above presumably means that it shouldn't be taught at primary level without parental consent.

Our school had a "parental consultation" before the new PSHE curriculum was introduced. This in reality was email us if you have any questions, but parents had no idea what to ask questions about. The yr 6 Transgender lesson is not compulsory, but my understanding is individual schools can choose to include it if they think it's relevant. My son went to a school nursery with a boy ( in the yr above) who had become a girl by yr 2. Obviously, he recognised the boy and we had an age appropriate conversation about this. It's not possible to change sex etc. The school therefore felt it appropriate to teach this stuff as we had a " trans child " all the way through juniors. As I said , this is Cornwall who wrote and distributed the Trans Student Guide in 2012.