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!

And, if there is anything controversial being taught, parents will be able to see it. They have to be transparent.

This is key

@Vebrithien 👏you have made such a difference by being willing to stand up and be counted. You made sure your communications with the school were appropriate, with evidence based facts and information. You were persistent, but not pushy or rude, and managed to bring together a group of like minded parents to ensure all the children in that school receive appropriate and corrected teaching and messages.

I cannot accept all the praise for this.

Without all of you, I would not seen the other side of the argument.

I would not have found the resources I needed.

Without all of you, your clear common sense, your rational discussions and your support, I would not have found the courage to do this.

Even KJK, and her Trowbridge appearance gave me the confidence to set this argument into the wilds of the year group WhatsApp group.

And the support of the lovely mums (and a couple of dads) who have listened to what I had to say, asked their questions, and then supported my concerns and contacted the school.

We really are stronger together.

Thank you.

Right.

There is a🍷with my name on it.

I think that you've done a wonderful job, Veb. Don't do yourself down, you made all this happen, you asked for advice and support - we all do well with support.

But make no mistake, you have been the focal point and without you, nothing would have changed.

Well done! Yes you sought advice on here but it was you in person who actually did it. That took guts and persistence which you appear to have in abundance ☺️

I cannot say how much I admire you. Even with help from other’s input, it was your calm, studied, logical, measured, and indefatigable approach that made all the difference.

You have a young child as well as being a secondary school teacher - it is not as though you didn’t already have enough on your plate!

Then you had that first snippy and obfuscating response of the deputy head to deal with, followed by some very bullying threats when you spoke to other parents about facts they have every right to know.

All the whole assembling coherent arguments to present to the school and the parent’s group.

Your courage and resilience has been remarkable.

Thank you, you are all very kind.

Well now, in a curious turn of events, I've just been asked to cover a colleague next term, teaching human reproduction to another year 7 class!

(Colleague is heavily pregnant, it's all a bit too awkward for her).

Will be interesting to see what misconceptions this class already has...

Just popping this here for interest. Looking hopeful that this is coming into the light.

That year 7 will be lucky to get you. I’d be so relieved if I were one of their parents!

Congrats to the person promoting the petition! 👏🏼👏🏼. I heard of it in this thread, and was chuffed to get the email to say it will be debated in parliament 12th June,

Parliament is going to debate the petition you signed – “Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex”.

Hi all, thought I'd just post an update.

A group of parents had a meeting with the school today, including the DepHead, RSE lead and PHSE lead, as well as the assistant Head.

We looked all through the resources, and discussed our concerns, up to and including who the school communicates with parents.

The school have revised their RSE teaching, in the light of the issues we've raised, as well as the national sunlight.

We have had it confirmed that;

Gender identify is NOT taught explicitly, and if a child asks, it is discussed as a belief, NOT fact

Gender critical/people may not have a gender identity is also included in these discussions.

Children are NOT taught that they can change sex.

We, as parents, also voiced our concerns that the children need to understand the language being used, especially around biological sex.

I gave some testimony about how I have students coming up to secondary, totally confused about being able to change sex.

The end results;

The school were very respectful, and listens to and discussed our concerns with us.

Next week, the RSE curriculum is going to be shared parents, for consultation

From September, there is going to be a parent Portal, where we can discuss concerns, but also where they can host all the resources, so they can be securely viewed.

And lastly.

The school has asked me to be a science/secondary school consultant, and help to provide biology training!

Splendid work, veb. Interesting piece on the BBC today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65473198

Wow Vebrithien, that is absolutely amazing.

What a feat you have achieved. And all documented on here, step-by-step. Brilliant stuff.

Amazing update OP.

Fabulous news @Vebrithien . You've done amazingly there.

@Vebrithien wow! All that hard work has paid off. Bloody well done! Think how many children you've saved from being taught rubbish.

💐

Congratulations @Vebrithien That's actually made me feel quite emotional as I view the carnage caused by proponents of this ideology to our children.

This is what respectful dialogue looks like between parents and schools - a partnership.

Well done - not just in getting the school to moderate their teaching, but (even more importantly IMO) getting them to be more transparent about what they are dong and teaching and what materials are being used in the classroom.

Absolutely astounding - and very heartening - @Vebrithien . Thank you so much!

Well done, but how has it ever, ever got to this?

Thank you, everyone.

I honestly don't know if I could have persisted, if it wasn't for the support I've received here.

Particularly after being dismissed so many times. The threats from the school were a particular low point, but we made clear point today that we're the COVID generation of parents, we don't have a deep relationship with the school, simply because we have been locked out!

I live in hope of more open discussion in future.

Well done @Vebrithien. Fab news and thanks for the update.

Brilliant, well done! 💐

Wonderful Veb. All your work on this couldn’t have been more salient to the moment.

Thanks to you and the other parents, this school will be rather a leader, and a beacon. I bet they realise this and are grateful. They’ve most likely moved way ahead of many others on this.