Please help! Gender not sex on a school 'protected characteristics' poster, just spoken to the Head!

[Vebrithien]

Good morning,

I started this thread before Christmas

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4684558-today-i-found-my-bravery?page=1

The overview is that my DD's primary school is displaying posters by No Outsiders, which are supposed to show the 9 protected characteristics, but shows gender, not sex.

The (male) deputy head I mentioned it to, before Christmas, has not got back to me. The posters are still there.

I summoned up my courage this morning, and spoke to the Headteacher. She seemed surprised, as I said I'd already mentioned it to one deputy head, and that I'd picked up on it due to my school expecting Ofsted, and reissuing our equality training.

The Head said that it was surprising, as No Outsiders were an organisation whose specialism was equalities.

I replied that the EA2010 says sex, not gender. I also mentioned that there were some concerning resources produced by them, including an assembly where a dad wants to offer violence to children who do not accept his trans child. (I know no more than this)

The Head is going to talk to her other deputy head, whose responsibility this is, and to try to put us in contact.

Where do I do from here?

Can any one help me with evidence? What particularly is dodgy about No Outsiders?

Is there anything that states that schools mustn't misrepresent the EA?

Is there any DofE (or whatever it's called now) guidance for schools on the resources they used or how they represent the EA?

And, how should I go about finding out if the school uses other No Outsiders resources?

Please help, I want as much evidence as I can.

Still shaking with adrenaline from speaking to the Head!

Abuse not advice

Don't understand the point of whacking some inaccurate posters up if they're not following the programme!

Ofsted, clearly. But they will need to be prepared for Ofsted inspectors to ask the children what the characteristics are as they did in a local primary school to me. The children couldn't answer what trans was and this was noted as negative by the inspector 😠

Honestly that's a lot of money for a bit of plastic to virtue signal.

Sorry I'm still unclear- theyre not running the programme?

As far as I can tell, they are using Jigsaw for their RSE, I don't know if they are using No Outsiders for anything else. It isn't mentioned in their safeguarding/inclusion policy.

Not seen those plaques either, will check the reception area when I can get in there next.

Sorry for the trivial diversion but on the plaque:

'No one is the same' doesn't make sense to me!

Surely 'no two are the same' ?

Other than that and as a standalone message, I think it is a good one to promote in schools, that we are all different, but equal. The not EA2010 posters, however...

When I first got a letter from my children's school about NO I read the whole title in a grammatically different way. As in No (to) outsiders- it didn't initially read well at all.

As far as I can tell, they are using Jigsaw for their RSE

Jigsaw is full of gender ideology unfortunately.

We all need a book of guidance for de-programming our children.

The school safeguarding policy states at the beginning, with the sources it uses;

Governing bodies and proprietors should carefully consider how they’re supporting their pupils and
students regarding particular protected characteristics (including disability, sex, sexual orientation,
gender reassignment and race) under the Equality Act 2010.

More from their safeguarding policy;

We are committed to anti-discriminatory practice and recognise children’s diverse circumstances. We ensure
that all children have the same protection, regardless of any barriers they may face.

We give special consideration to children who:

1. have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or health conditions
2. are young carers
3. may experience discrimination due to their race, ethnicity, religion, gender identification or sexuality
4. have English as an additional language (EAL)
5. are known to be living in difficult situations

6.are at risk of FGM, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, or radicalisation

*1. Children with SEND need language with clear definitions to be taught. Sex has a clear, biological definition. Gender does not.

1. How is sexuality defined, if gender is used rather than biological sex? Likewise, how is gender identity defined, without reference gendered stereotypes, if sex is not referenced?

1. Children with EAL need clear, concise language. Sex has a clear definition, gender does not.

1. If gender is used rather than sex, the FGM becomes difficult to define.*

Very good points

I am not even sure I agree No outsiders should be any school's policy. Someone who beats up other children or says they are 16 but are 21 or who ruins the classroom space for others or stabs others is an outside who is not wanted and the sooner they are marched out the door the better.

Well, yes, that is also true.

Strangely, my first thought, when I initially saw the poster, and could only see the title, was shock. I thought it means that outsiders were not welcome.

Of course, I had a closer look, and then saw the sex/gender bubble swap

I have not raised this issue with the school, as I wanted to be clear on the content first.

Right then.

I have copied and pasted all of the ideas and references, such as I have, into a message and have emailed it to myself.

My next step will be to organise all of this into a coherent email I can send.

I still need to find the reference for teachers not perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

I could do with some more examples of schools or LEAs that have rejected No Outsiders.

I need to have more of a look through the guidance sent to me by @rabbitwoman.

Bloody hell, this email is going to be huuuge!

I also need to think about if I send it just to the DepHead, or also copy in the Head and the governors.

I'd copy them all in, so as the Deputy can't just ignore it.

I have read the transgender guidance from @rabbitwoman's LEA.

It is fucking spectacular!

I particularly like this bit.

Sex and gender are often conflated to mean the same thing; in order for clarity, it is important that these terms are used correctly. Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define a child as either male/boy or female/girl. Gender is a social construct that can mean different things to different people; each culture will have its own set of gender stereotypes in terms of the roles, behaviours and expressions associated with either sex.
• Children and adults should be able to express themselves in ways that do not conform to stereotypical gender norms. A girl should be able to display a range of feminine to masculine characteristics without feeling that she is being wrong for doing so; and likewise for boys.
• Gender non-conformity can be common in children and adults as people rarely fit neatly into generalised stereotypes. Children should be encouraged to feel safe, secure and ok within their own body however they express themselves.

That is wonderful. How beautifully nuanced and well expressed.

Did you write it @rabbitwoman ? I gather it is thanks to you at any rate.

How beautifully nuanced and well expressed.

FUCKING SPECTACULAR

😁

I think Safe Schools point about sitting on one side of a contentious debate is very useful here. Schools have to be politically neutral. By using posters from one side they are not being. By saying it is not representing the Equality Act they then have to consider what it does represent and that it is political. they can't use the Equality Act now to say it is not poltiical so you've got them. It takes a stance on a contenciosu debate. Ask them that in stages - do you agree the debate is contenious? Bound to say yes. Well - how does this poster address both sides? Ask them to take it down or balance it with something from transgender trend or Sex Matters? Also ask them how they balance the teaching of the resources from this orgnsiation with resources from the other side of the debate. Ask to see resources that show both sides of the debate. Put in writing to the head that the deputy has acknowledged the debate is contenscious but can't or won't show how the school is remaining politically neutral. Ask what processes are in palce to ensure that the school is not politically biased.

And do start copying in the school governors. Tell them you are concerned about the misrepresentation of the equality act, safe-guarding and the political bias and that you are sending on copies of your correspondence so they are aware. Send it to more than one governor in case the the chair is also captured and just sits on your letter. Ask them when ofsted are due next? (concentrate their minds)

You could also contact the journalist Jill Foster who writes on this stuff in schools - she might be able to put you in contact with a journalist in your area or offer advice.

twitter.com/JournalistJill has her details in the bio.

This twitter poster was also really helpful to me when I was attenting a meeting about the teaching of this stuff - she was very good on the nature of the resources produced by these different companies which might give you some useful quotes. twitter.com/STILLTish

If your MP is no good try the local councillors. Maybe after the next exchange of inevitably useless letters from the DHead you could then ask for a meeting with the head, a governor and a supportively local councillor to address the problem of political bias in the school (that should make them sit up a bit). Get any refusal in writing. A school catchment area is likely to have more than one councillor you could try them all- I would start with a Conservative or an Independent.

(Adding my voice to those who initially thought from the name that No Outsiders was some sort of National Front type thing.)

Ahaha, I wish I could take credit but I did not write it, no.

The guidance was emailed round to all the teachers at our school October time? I felt dread at first but when I read it I nearly cried with relief - in the acknowledgements on the last page it thanks Sex Matters. It lists transgender trend, sex matters and the safe school's alliance as resources (also Stonewall, but no mermaids!!)

But it doesn't seem to be widespread and I have no idea why my LEA has it - I don't know how much influence MPs have over school's guidance, but my MP is very much GC. Hopefully we are just one of the first of many and this is the way forward!!

Again, if anyone would like a copy, DM me :-)

I have posted elsewhere but can I please drop this here also : m.youtube.com/watch?v=Np2t-E4SVxU

Is is a link to Isla Mac parents against Gender Ideaology - it's a short YouTube video guiding you through an effective way to approach schools about this. It's excellent, so is she and the other information on her channel. Her letter is very direct and too the point with regards to any teaching of genderism your child might be exposed to.

I think the next response should be kept short. People tend to read shorter things particularly busy teachers. I am a lawyer and clients often want to send page after page whereas a few bullet point often as has good an effect (which is very frustrating when you have a lot you want to say of course....)