Statutory guidance on RSE and health education now out from DfE

[Barbie222]

Apologies if there’s a thread running already - the DfE statutory guidance on relationships and sex education is out today: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

This specific piece of guidance was interesting:

67. Pupils should also be taught the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment. This should recognise that people have legal rights by virtue of their biological sex which are different from the rights of those of the opposite sex with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. Pupils should also be taught to recognise that people with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, as with the other protected characteristics, have protection from discrimination and should be treated with respect and dignity.

68. In teaching this, schools should be mindful that beyond the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment there is significant debate, and they should be careful not to endorse any particular view or teach it as fact. For example, they should not teach as fact that all people have a gender identity. Schools should avoid language and activities which repeat or enforce gender stereotypes. Schools should be mindful to avoid any suggestion that social transition is a simple solution to feelings of distress or discomfort.

69. Schools should encourage young people to consider how to express their views while remaining respectful of the opinions of others. Schools should be clear that bullying or disrespectful language or behaviour is never appropriate. * *

70. Where schools decide to use external resources, they should avoid materials that use cartoons or diagrams that oversimplify this topic, that could be interpreted as being aimed at younger children, or that perpetuate stereotypes or encourage pupils to question their gender. Schools should consult parents on the content of external resources on this topic in advance and make all materials available to them on request as set out in the section on openness with parents.

Good thread critical of the new guidelines- don’t go far enough
https://x.com/neildotobrien/status/1945751026385969242?s=46&t=A2fpFNgDRyXF2d6ye97wEA

I'd like to add to this thread a judicial review that I reckon is a game changer in rooting out queer theory political activism from schools.

That's exactly where my head went too Mrs O.

https://x.com/BonfireLady/status/1945494800242761916?t=D3ilFk2SHHSJYAI6PRN3Cg&s=19

It's high time schools recognised their obligations on this.

And thank you Red for that excellent steer on the common understanding of words and facts.

I would do a bit of googling for a really good explanation on the concept of reasonableness in law in the UK.

I find it a very interesting word given our very own AIBU section here. It's not a coincidence. It's a cultural measure of behaviour and understanding.

Full article on O'Brien's substack:

substack.com/home/post/p-168460284

Sorry if this has already been posted but saw this on Government Press Release:

Oak National Academy, the publicly-funded provider of curriculum and teaching resources for schools, has released a set of online safety lessons reflecting this part of the guidance that will warn teenagers of the dangers of incel ideology and other forms of misogyny they encounter on the internet.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/misogynistic-myths-kicked-out-of-classrooms-to-protect-children

Teaching online safety in schools: tackling real risks to help pupils stay safe
https://www.thenational.academy/blog/teaching-online-safety-in-schools-tackling-real-risks-to-help-pupils-stay-safe

This is good but I'd like our legal rights to single-sex spaces to be taught as well. It's important especially as it's been challenged so much in recent years.

Genuinely think this could be seismic with regard to TRA influence in schools, how do we make sure the schools actually do it and hold them to account?

It's going to need publicity. Ideally the government would remind schools of this.
Hopefully Transgender Trend, Safe Schools Alliance, Sex Matters etc will issue statements about this - along with highlighting the DfE guidance which explains how schools can manage political issues / involve different groups in schools in an impartial way.
Of course, the forthcoming gender questioning guidance would be the perfect opportunity to remind schools that the groups desperate to gaslight children that sex change is a great option for them, should have no place in schools.

It will absolutely, but will also need people to take these local organisations to task and make sure they do as they are required to do. Brighton council and police, as well as all their schools need the biggest public humiliation and climb down possible....

https://selsey.substack.com/p/impartiality-on-parade

IANAL but I can’t help thinking another JR may be needed as I wonder if schools will argue lgbt needs to be taught

They can, and probably should, but they have to present themselves as non biased and therefore tel all sides including the people who reckon gender ID is crap :)

The bit about not teaching that all people have a gender identity is bizarre tho..like there's probably about as many people who believe that the moon is made of cheese than who sincerely believe they don't have a gender identity, but meh.

@BeeSouriante

I don't have a gender identity, I have a sex (female) and a personality. I sincerely believe this. In fact I'd go as far as misquoting Demi Moore in a Few Good Men and say I strenuously believe I don't have a gender identity.

Now does anyone have a giant box of crackers and a vat chilli jam? The moon is looking particularly tasty.

I would lay good money that most people, if gender and sex were explained to them (stereotypes and biology) would conclude they had a sex and a personality and identity has fuck all to do with anything.

If you spend all your time in a genderwoo echo chamber it may appear differently, of course.

For example one weekend last autumn one Friday I had my hair done, put on make up, strappy shoes and a sparkly floor length dress and carried a hand bag. I drank white wine and danced the 'follower' parts on the dance floor. The next day I wore jeans, a football shirt, a hoodie and a 'mens' coat and no makeup. I drank pints and shouted at the players.

I don't think on Friday I was in 'girl mode' and on Saturday I was in 'boy mode' I was just me. Female on both days.

girl mode / boy mode language is just about the most sexist, embarrassing language TRAs use

I agree - they might complain. LBG issues certainly need to be covered age appropriately in PSHE as part of the curriculum.
No school should be running pride / stonewall / LGBT groups in schools any more than they should be running groups about sex / sexuality for year 9 girls or any other cohort. Hopefully the political / queer theory activist confirmation that the judgment evidences will now lead to them being stopped.

https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1m1botg/starmers_clause_28/

The response on Reddit has been relatively calm though - only two posters have called the guidance genocidal so far.

how are they going to do this if the teacher clearly has a gender identity? Due to being non binary particularly I think , which isn’t covered by the EA.

being non binary and perhaps saying I have mixed or absent gender identity, forces all the children into a binary whereby they do have a gender identity by proxy 🤪

Vomit inducing isn't it?