RSE secrecy in schools - appeal case 16th and 17th Sept

[Dumbledoreslemonsherbets]

I couldn't see an active thread so just wanted to make everyone aware about the latest update on this important case, as outlined below. If you search crowdjustice for 'Transparency in schools' you'll find it.

Personally I think it's utterly batshit that organisations without any safeguarding checks on their staff whatsoever can create RSE for schools, get schools to pay from their meagre accounts for it, and then keep it secret from parents. It's literally mad as a box of frogs and against ALL safeguarding principles.

A bit more gardening needed for this - I think this is very important.

Case update below:

Dear Supporters,
I have a very important update for my school transparency case.
There will be a key hearing of the case in the Upper Tribunal court on the 16th and 17th September 2024. This is to hear my appeal against the outcome of the First Tier Tribunal (FTT), which found in favour of the Information Commissioner’s decision under the Freedom of Information Act to support our school in not disclosing the sex education materials it used to teach my daughter - nor even the name of the teachers who gave the lesson.
This non-disclosure prioritised commercial secrecy in the classroom over the public interest for parents to have full access to school resources, and it prioritised the privacy of teachers over the transparency that is essential for parents to take care of their children. So I am appealing to overturn this dreadful situation that undermines safeguarding, impartiality, democracy and the primacy of the family.
The seriousness of setting a general precedent for allowing secrecy has been made all too clear by the recent arrest of a patron of a Relationships and Sex Education charity on charges of serious child sexual abuse (although I note this is not the company pertaining to my case). https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13752045/Surrey-Pride-LGBT-Stephen-Ireland-child-sex-offence-charges.html.
As a result of the upcoming hearing, the Upper Tribunal will decide either to refer the case back to the FTT to be reheard or it will redecide the outcome itself – in which case it might agree with the FTT for non-disclosure or it might reverse the decision and order disclosure of the lesson materials. A decision by the Upper Tribunal will clarify the law on whether secret lessons are lawful and this in turn will have a bearing on the new Relationships and Sex Education Guidance that is due to be published by the DfE this autumn, which will need to follow this ruling.
There is a realistic prospect that the Upper Tribunal will make a ruling that protects children and empowers the role of parents in their education, and my solicitor, Paul Conrathe, and I have built a strong case in pursuit of that outcome, in which Zoe Gannon will continue to very ably represent the elements relating to education law and Jonathan Moss has brought excellent arguments concerning copyright and confidentiality.
Over the coming days I will be posting detailed updates on my X account, explaining the history and key issues and arguments of the case and why it is so important we win for both safeguarding children and maintaining liberty and democracy – so please follow @nosecretlessons to hear more.
In the meanwhile, I would like to appeal to you for further support as we deliver what is hopefully the final round in the fight for transparency in schooling. I have not yet reached my crowdfund target - which I have had to extend to pay for this appeal - and I do not yet have the funds to meet the cost of the barristers representing the case. I would therefore be extremely grateful if you are prepared to contribute to the crowdfund (any sum is most welcome) and/or to spread the word with others who you think would support this crucial case.
All funds raised are solely for legal fees and not for me – I am bringing the case on an entirely voluntary basis. Quite simply, I believe we cannot let commercial secrecy continue to take priority in the classroom, where it obstructs parents from taking care of their children in education.
With many thanks indeed for your support so far.
Best wishes,
Clare Page

Thank you for this thread.

Yep, definitely very important.

Also, possibly now very winnable because the statutory KCSIE guidance that went live this week recognises that a child who is "gender questioning" could be at risk of harm owing to "wider vulnerabilities". It's not a massive leap to point out at the appeal that it is in the interests of child safeguarding that parents are aware what their children are being taught in relation to gender identity belief and by whom. Although the draft Gender Questioning Children guidance isn't yet finalised, it is referenced in the KCSIE guidance. It's also the only document in education (I think) where a definition of "gender identity" has been written. In the definition it states that "not everyone believes we have a gender identity". Hopefully her legal team can use all of this (on top of what they've already got in relation to the legal recognition of the importance of parents) to demonstrate why it's important for child safeguarding that parents are aware if this belief is being taught to their children as fact in PHSE/RSE lessons.

Thanks for the bump @BonfireLady .

I'm pretty sure the people creating these 'secret' RSE resources need have no DBS or safeguarding checks at all. They can all be (and in some cases are allegedly) entirely inappropriate- we've had people involved with pushing independent RSE resources in schools alleged to have committed child sexual abuse, and some people involved with RSE orgs were also running sex toy shops . WHY can they get away with this? At the very least they should have the same checks as school staff.

It's difficult not to conclude that the reason they might want 'commercial confidentiality' is to avoid safeguarding scrutiny from parents.

I am a bellringer - and I do not teach ringing, I only ring. However, our local diocesan guild has mandated safeguarding courses for all ringers, since we come into contact with children learning to ring and, as with any instrument, sometimes the teacher has to be very close to the learner. I am amazed that people teaching RSE in schools do not have similar requirements.

There's no 'allegedly' regarding the paedophile, Andrew Easton, who co-wrote the LGBTY Scotland Coming Out guide.

Fingers crossed 🤞

Bumping this and as the schools have just gone back / are about to go back, it's a good time to find out if you have access to the RSE / PHSE materials your child will be taught in school this year and find out who produced them, and whether any outside groups will be brought in.

Just a bump as this is coming up next week.