Preparing for the imminent transgender guidance

With the long-awaited gender guidance for schools seemingly imminent – it may be published in the next week (but don’t hold your breath) – CViE supporters may be wondering what they can do.

It is likely that when released no one will be happy – it will not go far enough for some, and go too far for others.

CViE would like to remind our supporters of some advice offered via Christian Concern in an article titled, ‘Five bad reasons for sex education and five things you can do about it’ – available here. There are apparent parallels that you might find helpful.

The five reasons given were:

1. “It just teaches children about diversity”

2. “It teaches children not to be homophobic”

3. “It is age-appropriate”

4. “You can still opt your child out”

5. “It’s the law”

– and the five actions were:

1. Write to your MP

2. Organise a meeting for parents

3. Write to your headteacher

4. Withdraw your child from sex education

5. Change schools/home educate/start your own school!

The article was published in 2019, so some details may be out-of-date, most of the principles remain to offer parents guidance on responding thoughtfully to the sexualizing agenda in the culture that is pervading schools.

Christian Concern offered a helpful follow-up in early 2020 – ‘New Relationships Education planner for primary schools’ (available here) – to respond to the then-imminent new ‘Relationships and Sex Education guidelines’, introduced into schools in September 2020 (and subsequently exposed as opening the door wide to advocacy and grossly inappropriate materials). 

At that time Christian Concern created a resource to for planning Relationships Education lessons in primary schools (Years 1-6) that followed the government guidance yet remained faithful to Christian principles.  It is a very accessible planner and may be of help to our supporters.  The planning resource is free to download here and can be copied freely for your school’s planning.

Please let CViE know your experience in dealing with these issues, or if you are aware of any other helpful tools or resources – enquiries@cvie.org.uk.