After noticing a number of teachers wearing rainbow badges on their lanyards, I wrote to the head to complain that I viewed the badges as a political statement. The head replied that she didn’t agree and that it was important to show to support to LGBT pupils.
When I asked how the teachers would respond to questions from pupils about the badges in an age-appropriate way, I was told they would seek advice from the external agency they are working with. On pressing the head for details about which organisation would be providing such advice, I was informed that the school staff had received training from an organisation called Free2B Alliance. This organisation’s website raises a number of safeguarding concerns which I raised with the head, including the weaponization of suicide and self-harm, a youth club for children aged 9 – 14 to discuss their sexuality and gender identity and the promotion of breast binding and tucking. The head failed to address any of these concerns.
The organisation also takes an ideological approach to the question of gender identity and transgenderism promoting the idea that everyone has an internal sense of gender identity and promoting social transition as the only approach to a child or young person experiencing confusion around their gender. When raising concerns about the ideological nature of this organisation with the head, I relied on the evidence of the Interim Report of the Cass Review and yet my concerns were dismissed in a way that implied I was simply intolerant of difference.
I raised the same concerns with the Chair of Governors who was equally dismissive. Both told me that they “would not be communicating any further with me on this issue” and they considered “the matter closed” leaving me with no recourse to take my complaint further. I should clarify that the head has assured me that there has been no teaching of gender identity but the complete disregard of basic safeguarding principles and the principle of fact-based teaching is a cause of real concern.