Jigsaw PSHE?

[FondOfOwls]

Is anyone familiar with Jigsaw PSHE? I received an e-mail from DD's school, where it outlines 'gender diversity' as part of the lessons for the Autumn term next year. She will be 6 years old.
Should I be concerned? Are the schools already updating their lessons or is it just my wishful thinking? I was under impression that Jigsaw wasn't the worst for it, but maybe I was wrong...

@BreatheAndFocus I imagine that would have been a "starter" activity though and the lesson plan would have gone on to unpick it e.g. boys and girls can wear what they like.

No, sadly it wasn’t. I’d have been all for it if it had trashed regressive stereotypes, but it clearly didn’t. That’s what I mean about not trusting jigsaw. They have ulterior motives and frame things subtly.

I've seen the Year 6 lesson for Jigsaw on Celebrating Difference - it discusses the protected characteristics in the Equality Act (for 10 year olds! why?!) and then tells the story of Robert Marshall Cowell, a fighter pilot in WW2 who raced motor cars but then became "very sad" - "so depressed that he had to leave his wife and children" and see a doctor. "Robert was transgender, which meant that he was born with a male body but felt like a female. The doctors... helped him start a special process called transitioning, where he changed his male body into a female one."

"Unlike Roberta some transgender people feel male but are born with a female body, and some transgender people are happy not to transition but stay with the body they are born with. There are a whole range of transgender people, and this is called gender diversity."

Followed by questions (I think these are by Jigsaw as well but different font so could be the school) including: Why was Robert unhappy? Why do you think people were unkind when Robert changed to Roberta? What do you think it would feel like not being happy with who you are? Does gender make someone a good or bad person?

@BreatheAndFocus Have you seen the lesson plan? I am almost certain it would not have boxed boys and girls into "boys clothes" and "girls clothes" categories. In our school we make the children very aware that this sort of stereotyping and pigeon-holing is not OK.
I'm a teacher (20 years) but also a strong feminist (yes kids - I am a Ms and married!!) and had this genuinely been the lesson plan I would have refused to teach it.

We've just had the email from school - Catholic MAT secondary - where the PSHE policy includes references to "The Equalities Act" and lists gender identity among the protected characteristics. Does include sex as well.

That's worth a letter, isn't it?

Absolutely, you need to correct them- it is gender reassignment that is protected if I am right.

@Hellodarknessmyfriend It seems some schools use Jigsaw in different ways, some more malicious and some acceptable.
I am slightly concerned as our PSHE lead is giving me the 'be kind' vibes (young, sweet lady). I am happy they are not using any questionable books at least.

I've filled in the consultation. Will any of those changes go through when Labour gets in, or will they happily introduce obligatory gender unicorns?! 😭

Yes, I asked for it. I almost didn’t bother because it sounded ok, but the impression the lesson plan gave was there were boys clothes and girls clothes. There was nothing there about contradicting or questioning that view. I also grilled my DC afterwards and they gave no impression those stereotypes had in any way been addressed.