School trust backs down and apologises for plans to introduce trans education programme for children as young as four after huge parent backlash

• Trust planned to teach terms such as ‘transgender to children aged four to 11
•  Golden Thread Alliance Trust runs nine academies in Dartford and Gravesend

A school trust has backed down and apologised over plans to introduce a transgender education programme for children as young as four – after a huge backlash from parents.

The Golden Thread Alliance Trust, which runs nine academies across Dartford and Gravesend, was spearheading the pilot scheme at Meopham Community Academy before rolling out to the other schools in the trust.

Youngsters ranging in age from four to eleven, were set to learn about terms such as transgender, non-binary, and assigned sex when they returned to school following the Christmas break.

Children in Years 1 and 2 were to be taught how to combat negative gender stereotypes, while those in Years 5 and 6 were to learn about issues relating to transgenderism and gender identity – and look at understanding, identifying, and defining different sexual orientations.

But the trailblazing scheme met considerable resistance, with some parents threatening to take their children out of lessons.

One parent hailed a decision to back down as a ‘triumph for common sense and parent power’.

Michele Sowden-Mehta, senior school improvement lead at The Golden Trust Alliance, which announced it had backtracked on plans for a trans education programme after discussions with parents

The mum, who spoke to Mail Online on the condition of anonymity, said: ‘This is on the Golden Thread Alliance Trust, not the poor school or the classroom teachers. The school is part of our community and we want to love it and nurture it, but felt this was being pushed on us from above against our will, staff, parents and students’ will by the Trust. At least a hundred parents were against it, if not more.’

Parents first heard about the plans in a ‘heated’ online forum between parents and school leaders held over Zoom last Thursday. They were introduced to ‘Pop ‘n’ Olly’, an external provider and one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ educational resources who were due to come and provide the teaching in the school.

‘Pop ‘n’ Olly’ are behind a book which teaches children that a person’s sex is ‘assigned’ to them at birth by a doctor to 814 primary schools across Britain. Copies of What Does LGBT+ Mean? also claims that gender is a ‘sliding scale between male and female’ and that a doctor or nurse ‘looked at our body and gave us a label based on what they could see’.

Following the forum, there then followed a Q&A session. ‘Apart from one parent who agreed with the scheme, and who was from the LGBT community, all the other parents were strongly against the scheme,’ said the mum. ‘I don’t think Pop ‘n’ Olly’ were prepared for the response, they kept reverting to ‘well it’s the Government guidelines’ and then abruptly ended the meeting even though parents asked for it to continue.’

She said a video link of the meeting intended for parents unable to attend was then edited to remove the parents’ views.

‘We are not anti anything. We just feel as parents our primary-age children do not need exposure to this. I don’t want my child confused and thinking about things that they don’t need to worry about. Ultimately I, as a parent, should have the final say on what my children learn.

‘It is not age appropriate to be teaching children about LGBTQ+ matters, my children still play with soft toys and colouring-in, they are not ready for adult matters.

‘This is a form of indoctrination of false gender ideologies and changing the social norms for young children. The material is not based on scientific evidence but presented as fact.

‘Our children are behind due to covid so they should be putting their energy and resources into helping their academic lessons. I really think the leadership team should resign, their positions are untenable.’

Meopham Community Academy in Kent planned to introduce terms such as ‘transgender’ and ‘non-binary’ to students aged four to 11

The Golden Thread Alliance Trust, headed by CEO Garry Ratcliffe, today retreated and issued a grovelling apology to parents.

‘Through the Parent Forum and the discussions yesterday we have heard many different views both from those strongly in support and from those who have significant concerns.  We want to assure you that we are absolutely listening and determined to get this right.

‘To be clear, there will be no further teaching of Sex Education or LGBT+ content within the RSE curriculum at MCA until after the consultation period.

‘I would like to apologise for the upset the pilot has caused. It was absolutely our intention to open the conversation to ensure you, as parents and carers, are part of the decision making process and ensure you are well informed not to cause any anxiety or upset.’

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