Hi everyone 🤗
I’ve complained to my local council about the guidance for transgender pupils which they’ve endorsed and Circulated to all local schools. I’ve made a number of points, including this one below, to which they have responded thus
I am concerned that the guidance states:
· a male-bodied pupil who declares as transgender can elect to use the girls' changing area , and that if any girl expresses discomfort with this, she should be challenged and told her feelings aren't permissible and if she still objects, she will be found an alternative place to change, whist the male-bodied person stays in the girls changing area.
Their response:
The guidance clearly states;
‘It is also important to ensure that all learners feel safe using all school facilities’
We would expect staff to deal with issues such as this sensitively to ensure everyone felt comfortable. We do however have to be mindful of the Equalities Act 2010 and that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic.
I’m a bit surprised by this response. It doesn’t seem to acknowledge that there that there may be a conflict of interest, but also my understanding is that the equalities act will only protect someone with a GRC, and as we Are speaking about schoolchildren, surely this would not apply. Isn’t it girls that are protected by the equalities act to have rights to privacy? I may be confused, please help!