Safe Schools Alliance Spokeswomen Victoria Edwards & Tanya Carter quoted in today’s @dailytelegraph article in response to @trussliz announcement on reforms to the Gender Recognition Act and self ID being ruled out. #edutwitter#WomenED#LGBT#ukedchat
‘We welcome the news that the government has decided not to use ‘self ID’ as a basis for being issued with a Gender Recognition certificate. It is heartening that this government have chosen to listen to the concerns of women’s groups & advocates for children.‘
‘When the original #GRA2004 was introduced, women’s opinions were not sought, nor was it assessed against our current child safeguarding frameworks.
There is still further work to do, to undo all the regulatory capture of organisations that have been working outside of the law.’
‘Schools must be mindful that Gender Identity is NOT a protected characteristic in the #EA2010. It is not defined anywhere in law. When teaching the concept of ‘gender identity’, schools must ensure they don’t undermine important work in challenging gender stereotypes & sexism’
‘While some people believe they have a ‘gender identity’, others do not. While belief is also a protected characteristic (and also not believing), beliefs must not be conflated with facts.‘
‘Schools should continue to ensure that on the occasions when it is necessary for students to be separated into boys and girls, for reasons of safety, privacy & dignity or fairness that this continues to be done on the basis of biological sex and not gender identity.’
‘There must be no ‘affirmation only’ policies now it has been made clear that self ID has no legal basis. We call upon the government to ensure all children have access to high quality and timely mental health support when needed.’
‘We look forward to continuing to work with the government, political parties, schools and unions on the important task of ensuring the highest standards of welfare for children at all times.’ #SLTchat#safeguarding#LGBT#WomenED#edutwitter#ukedchat
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. @BrookCharity was one of 100 organisations to sign a letter objecting to @Conservatives & @educationgovuk attempts to safeguard children from their damaging & dangerous #RSE resources. We have previously raised concerns about many of the signatories. rshe.uk
@BrookCharity @Conservatives @educationgovuk The letter to @educationgovuk objecting to attempts to introduce safeguards to #RSE materials has been signed by @barnardos. We have previously critiqued their resources for a lack of safeguarding. #Edutwitter #WomenEd #SafeguardingFail safeschoolsallianceuk.net/sdm_downloads/…
‘ “My recommendation as @ChildrensComm is that we need a #SafeguardingFirst approach to #RSHE & that is the way through this current impasse that seems to be in place because of very polarised views to how sex education should be taught.’
We are pleased to see @Rachel_deSouza finally agree with us. We have been advocating for the importance of safeguarding first #RSE for a very long time, perhaps now she will meet with us to discuss this? #Edutwitter #WomenEd
. @Rachel_deSouza says “I cannot see that anybody would think that children shouldn’t be taught the basics of sex education & how to keep themselves safe.” Nor can we Rachel, with the caveat that #safeguarding is an adult responsibility that should never be abdicated to children.
But that’s not what this is about, is it @Rachel_deSouza? When we have spoken to parents who tell us they’re against #RSE, discussion reveals that actually they have no concerns with their children being taught things such as puberty & reproduction. Their objections are to unscientific & anti #safeguarding materials that have been allowed to flood an unregulated market. Profit should have never been allowed to trump child protection. #Edutwitter #WomenEd
We agree with family law barrister @SVPhillimore. Breaching a child’s confidentiality on TV is unacceptable. We would like to read the judgement in full, but if that would also expose an individual child, it should not be published. We always prioritise #safeguarding children.
We have been made aware of this blog. All at Safe Schools Alliance find these views abhorrent. That does not mean he should not be allowed to express them. However, conflating gay & non-marital sex with rape & paedophilia is a #safeguarding concern. joshuasutcliffe.com/homosexuality
We have sent this independent report to press, peers, think tanks, @victor_madrigal at @UN & @Commonswomequ. We encourage you to read & send to your own schools, MPs & local safeguarding boards. We warn you it’s a difficult read. #SafeguardingFail#PolicyFail
Quote for press is: Tanya Carter Spokeswoman for Safe Schools Alliance said “This alarming, but sadly unsurprising, research sets out how long-established child safeguarding principles are being effectively dismantled. This leaves all children at risk…
Adults, professionally charged with the protection of children, have failed in their duty to identify this and this abdication of responsibility has left generations of children at risk of harm. Children are being left to navigate a minefield of predatory behaviour online…
Thread for ‘but is this happening in schools’ #Edutwitter. Yes it is. Firstly personal testimony: “the school nurse had referred her to the school counsellor [who] informed [her] that a hatred of one’s breasts could be an indicator of a non-binary” safeschoolsallianceuk.net/our-stories/ou…
More testimony: “I am utterly horrified at what was taught at a PSHE lesson at my school recently. It was to a group of children, most are 11-12 years old. It is so, so much worse than I thought.” #Edutwitter#DiverseEd#LGBT
More personal testimony: “We did request to see their transgender policy and it was kafkaesque – it repeatedly conflated sex & gender… & downplayed the effects of binders, blockers and hormones” #Edutwitter#WomeEd#PSHEPeeps
. @BrookCharity is one of the providers we frequently hear complaints about from both parents & teachers. Advising children to watch porn is not what they were expecting from #RSE. They want children taught about harms & how to have a healthy relationships as adults. #edutwitter