Schools guidance: the case for clarity

What's the problem?

Schools across England and Wales are operating under guidance that fails, in Hate Matters' view, to reflect the clear and ordinary views of the majority of parents, governors, and the single trustee who chairs our working group on the subject.

The guidance, as currently issued, draws on input from educators, child development specialists, psychologists, and clinical practitioners. Hate Matters has no objection to the existence of these professionals. We note, however, that their conclusions have consistently failed to align with ours. We attribute this to the limitations of formal training.

Our School Guidance Working Group was convened in 2023 to develop an alternative framework. The working group has met seven times. The chair, Margaret, has attended all seven sessions. She is the only person to have attended any of them. The minutes reflect this. They have been adopted unanimously.

What's the solution?

1. Schools must adopt clear, simple guidance reflecting the ordinary views of ordinary parents, as determined by us
2. The guidance must be developed with input from bodies with no formal training in education, child development, or psychology. We consider this an important safeguard.
3. The recommendations contained in Working Group Minutes 1–7 must be adopted in full. These recommendations were produced by one person. We consider this a strength.
4. A second working group must be convened to develop the first working group's recommendations into statutory guidance, pending quorum at the first working group
5. The Department for Education must consult Hate Matters at every stage. We note the Department has not done this. We note it without anger. We note it with precision.

What can you do?

Write to your child's school or its governing body. We have a template letter in the Hate Library. It has been used, with modifications, by several parents. One received a response. The response was a request to direct future correspondence to the local authority.

Attend a school governors' meeting and raise our guidance document. Copies are available in the Hate Library. We recommend printing several. You may be asked to leave. We recommend leaving but keeping the copies.

Join the working group. It meets on Tuesdays. If you are available, we would welcome you. You would achieve quorum. Margaret has asked us to convey that this would mean a great deal to her.

Updates

• March 2026Session seven convened. Chair: Margaret. Attendees: Margaret. Quorum: not achieved. Agenda item three was quorum. Quorum was not achieved at the session at which quorum was agenda item three. Minutes adopted unanimously.
• Jan 2026The Department for Education acknowledged our guidance submission. The acknowledgement was one sentence. We have written back with a twelve-page response to the one sentence.
• Oct 2025Margaret attended a school governors' training event and distributed our briefing. She was not asked to distribute it. She was asked to leave. She left. She kept the remaining copies. She has confirmed she will return.
• July 2025Session five. Quorum: not achieved. Margaret noted in the minutes that she remains "optimistic about future attendance". We admire this.
• March 2023Working group established. First session held. Quorum not achieved. Margaret took detailed notes.

In the media & resources

• Hate Matters Quarterly, Issue 4"Schools guidance: Margaret's reflections on seven meetings, zero quorums, and the ongoing case for clarity"
• Podcast"Margaret in Conversation with Margaret" — a forty-five minute solo episode in which Margaret discusses the working group, quorum, and her commitment to the process. Available on two platforms. Currently unrated.
• DownloadSchools and Hate: Guidance for Parents, Governors, and the Chair of Our Working Group — available in the Hate Library
• DownloadWorking Group Minutes 1–7 — available in the Hate Library
• DownloadTemplate letter to your child's school — available in the Hate Library