Sex not gender, No Outsiders changing the Equality Act, DepHead/DSL captured

[Vebrithien]

Well, here we are, with a whole new thread!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4713725-please-help-gender-not-sex-on-a-school-protected-characteristics-poster-just-spoken-to-the-head?page=10&reply=123546552

Thank you all, so so much for the support you have given me.

I am currently working on the draft of the message I want to send.

Long story short, DD's primary school displays posters by No Outsiders, showing the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act. Sex as been replaced with gender.

I have raised this with the Head, the assistant Head, and the Deputy Head (DepHead, as DH just doesn't work here). I have been reassured that sex is synonymous with gender in law, and, through an email stream, No Outsiders have reassured the school that it is deliberate, gender is easier to teach children than sex, especially as some will snigger at sex.

Oh, and teaching that gender is the difference between boys and girls, it makes it easier to then explain gender reassignment later on.

I'll put the message from the DepHead and No Outsiders here, and also my reply, in its current state.

Thank you all again!

@Vebrithien I'd be tempted to add a final sentence to this paragraph:
I have posted nothing defamatory about the school, only shared some concerns that I had, which at that point had not been addressed, and are directly linked to a question about the Equality Act and protected characteristics, which was asked in the survey sent out earlier that day.

namely In addition, I am rather puzzled as to why you would consider wasting police time with any concerns about defamation, given that that's not a criminal matter but one for civil litigation, usually involving quite expensive lawyers.

But then I can be quite passive aggressive when the mood takes me.

Yep, safe houses here

@Vebrithien I hope you're ok.

I've been thinking a lot about this and trying to calm down (can't imagine how you feel!) and I've come to the conclusion that if this bit Oh, and they threw in the threat that anything considered defamatory could be reported to the police

was in writing that I would raise a formal complaint, copied to governors immediately (as it was the school that sent this so they have a conflict of interest and cannot be reasonably expected to deal with this complaint) and be clear that if not resolved satisfactorily I would then follow procedure and raise with Ofsted because of the chilling impact of this type of statement (threat) on safeguarding.

If it was spoken, I would not raise a complaint but would put in writing that this was said, my hope that it was a miscommunication, but the fact that schools / public bodies cannot sue for defamation in law, that it's in any case a civil not police matter and defamation laws only apply if the statements are untrue. I'd add my concern that such an apparent threat/statement could have serious implications for a positive culture of safeguarding and parents feeling confident to disclose any concerns they may have. I'd also probably add that all my actions were in the best interests of the children in the school and promoting a positive culture of safeguarding where the entire school community feel able to respectfully share views.

Anyway, I have no doubt you will probably come up with something better, but this is what I'd do if it was me.

Sending solidarity and courage. And noting that for a lot of parents this comment (whether written or spoken) would shut them up. This is what we're facing. Schools apparently are more interested in promoting an unscientific ideology than doing what's in the best interests of children. It is very, very disturbing.

Sad.

Thank you.

Yes, I'm okay. Pissed off though.

You've given me plenty to think about.

Hopefully, this week I will go into DD's school and see the space where the posters used to be.

Double hopefully, there may be a meeting of the concerned parents, in person!

The school has now sent a full school letter, telling us we should not be discussing concerns about the school on WhatsApp.

They really don't want us talking about this, do they!?

Just dropping into this to say that while I have nothing practical to add I'm following this thread closely and rooting for you with all my heart, Vebrithien. 🌻

No they don't. And as for thinking they have the power or the right to tell adults who they can or can't talk to, what they can or can't talk about, and where they can and can't do it...they are off their bloody rockers.

Wow. You can talk about whatever you like on whatsapp

The nerve of them thinking they can police you like this

Some of the other parents are spitting feathers.

This has implications on safeguarding.

We have to follow the school complaints procedure, and not talk about it.

@Vebrithien you really have got them rattled.

Vebrithien · Today 13:19

The school has now sent a full school letter, telling us we should not be discussing concerns about the school on WhatsApp.

I don't think that they can dictate that to you. What next, no texts and no speaking in person?

Wow. It's amazing how The Righteous feel so secure in dictating other people's interactions, isn't it?

Does Ofsted have anything to say on this kind of thing?

I meant for the trying to stop parents talking to each other.

Have just found out that there was an incident in school last week, where a parent was verbally abused and threated by another parent. Also against the code of conduct.

Nothing has been mentioned by the school.

The parent who was threatened last week as emailed the school, saying that clearly they are more concerned about potential gossip, than actual safeguarding concerns!

They have no power to stop you saying what you like on WhatsApp, or anywhere else, to anyone. You are not employed by them and nor are the other parents. What an absolute cheek.

Blimey. What are they trying to hide?

This isn't just about the posters.

This makes me immediately suspicious there is a serious safeguarding failure they are scared parents have got wind of and are trying to cover up.

This behaviour is NOT in the best interests of children or safeguarding of children.

Plus why on earth do they think they have the right to control adults freedom of speech or assembly. Do they think they're the stasi?

It also underlines how unfit for purpose in safeguarding terms current complaints procedures are. If they're sending out silencing letters like this it's creating an anti-safeguarding climate of fear of raising concerns and the school itself (and possibly board of governors) would clearly have a conflict of interest in any complaints procedure. In this sort of situation there should be a route to complain direct to Ofsted.

In practical terms, switch your chat group to Snapchat 🙂

The more they try to shut the parents down the more you start to wonder what is so bad at that school that they want it kept quiet? You only react to parents talking to each other in the way they have if there is something serious lurking under the surface

I'm sorry, but how does this not breach the human right of freedom of association.

On what planet can a school dictate how parents organise, and who they speak to and how?

That's totally outrageous.

humanrightshouse.org/we-stand-for/freedom-of-association/

The utter, UTTER shits.

Despite an email from the DepHead last Monday, stating that all 4 posters had been taken down, I've seen one still up today, as I collected DD from school.

Well its not really a breach of any rights because its not enforceable, its ridiculous nonsense.

Vebrithien · Today 17:13

Despite an email from the DepHead last Monday, stating that all 4 posters had been taken down, I've seen one still up today, as I collected DD from school.

Well, be charitable and assume it's been missed by mistake, then email and point it out.

Someone in the senior management at the school is putting political ideology above the best interests of the children.

Yes, email and point out that the poster is still up despite the email.

Can you report direct to Ofsted / the LA if you have a safeguarding concern?

Unbelievable. WhatsApp chat between parents is nothing to do with them. It is not public social media, it is a closed group akin to school gate chat. Are they going to ban that too?
Amazing how the school is making a legitimate challenge by a parent about something quite specific into a full on shit show. They are uncovering their own can of worms. somebody in the SLT at the school is getting this very wrong.