Page 2 | Teacher forced to use terms

TheAmpleRedTurtle · 2025-10-14T19:32:11+00:00

Hi, Sorry, haven’t posted here before. I just need some advice. I teach in a secondary school and have to deliver a session next week and the PowerPoint uses the terms cisgender and discusses other related issues. I’m very very uncomfortable with this as I feel this is being forced on me and the students. How on earth do I deal with this?

Original poster

TheAmpleRedTurtle · 17/10/2025 17:46

It’s oddly worded isn’t it? If they explicitly stated a third space that would be ok, but they seem to have left it vague. The whole policy seems ready to attack anyone who is GC.

OP posts:

WhereAreWeNow · 17/10/2025 18:08

I would flag your concerns with your head of subject or an SLT member. Explain why you're concerned about the accuracy and appropriateness of the slides.

Xiaoxiong · 17/10/2025 18:30

If it's a programme that many schools use, it's not going to out you or where you teach. It would be good to know the external provider so other teachers and parents can check as it sounds likely their schools might be using it too!

I spent almost 18 months as a parent fighting this battle when our school delivered lessons they had got from the PSHE Association to DS1 when he was in Year 7. It was exactly as you describe: presented gender ideology as settled fact, no opposing viewpoint presented, not even a "some people believe". PSHE teacher just bleated over and over that the lessons were "checked by a KC and it's from the PSHE Association" as if that meant they couldn't possibly be wrong. I told her I was a lawyer too, and I didn't care where the lessons were from, the school is responsible for all content delivered in school, no matter who provided them.

I fought it all the way up to the head, other parents got involved, we discovered the PSHE policy had been quietly amended with no parental consultation... We got an apology, policy consultation and revision, and the PSHE teacher won't speak to me now.

BonfireLady · 17/10/2025 18:35

Xiaoxiong · 17/10/2025 18:30

If it's a programme that many schools use, it's not going to out you or where you teach. It would be good to know the external provider so other teachers and parents can check as it sounds likely their schools might be using it too!

I spent almost 18 months as a parent fighting this battle when our school delivered lessons they had got from the PSHE Association to DS1 when he was in Year 7. It was exactly as you describe: presented gender ideology as settled fact, no opposing viewpoint presented, not even a "some people believe". PSHE teacher just bleated over and over that the lessons were "checked by a KC and it's from the PSHE Association" as if that meant they couldn't possibly be wrong. I told her I was a lawyer too, and I didn't care where the lessons were from, the school is responsible for all content delivered in school, no matter who provided them.

I fought it all the way up to the head, other parents got involved, we discovered the PSHE policy had been quietly amended with no parental consultation... We got an apology, policy consultation and revision, and the PSHE teacher won't speak to me now.

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