Nadhim Zahawi in the Times today

The whole 'trans children' (and no I don't agree either) 'use the opposite sex changing rooms but at a different time to the children of that sex' is ridiculous.

a) there is no reason whatsoever for male children to use the female changing room; there is no equipment or set up in there that they need access to. They do not need to be in that space.

b) female children should not be waiting around for male children to finish making their use of the female space for female children before female children are permitted to use it, wtaf is that insanity about?

c) if we're agreeing that it is not appropriate for mixed sex spaces and being sensitive to some children not wishing to undress around children of their own sex due to dysphoria/identity then there's the requirement for a third space.

I thought it was a reasonable article. He's recognising that guidelines are needed and is striking an initial balance between things that are low stakes - like uniform and other matters which are more important like changing facilities and sports.
I got the undercurrent of taking some autonomy away from schools about how they individually decide on these issues.

I guess he is saying potential solution. And at least acknowledging that girls matter.

A solution this inconvenient to schools may discourage a bit of the 'transing without parental knowledge', too.

Promising, at least.

A potential solution, he says, is to allow them to change in the girls’ changing room before others do so. He proposes the same solution for lavatories, suggesting teachers could ensure they are empty before allowing in trans pupils. “The teacher can allow a trans person to use the toilets but not put at risk the safeguarding,” he says.

How does he think this is going to work? Either girls are going to be prevented from using their own toilets when they need them because the trans child is in there, or the trans child has to wait until all the girls have left, perhaps when the break has ended, and then use the toilet during lesson time (with a teacher having to supervise to check that the girls have all left).

Apart from the obvious, girls having to wait till the boy has changed, it seems pretty sensible. I can see now that it ties up with trans not being included in the conversion therapy bill. It makes sense to ensure the child has had proper talking therapy, with a proper therapist, before decision are made about transing them.

I read the article overall as a puff piece to tell the nation that he is a safe pair of hands.

With regard to trans issues, he’s trying to be reassuring to an audience who for the most part don’t want to think about them too deeply. Nothing to see here, we’ll protect sport and pupils can choose their own uniform.

It’s OK as a start but it’s not safeguarding.

That was my first thought as well. It’s infuriating.

I do like Zahawi.

At least it seems he is listening to variety of opinions and making his own mind up.

I know that is what elected officials should do but rare these days.

He has to take a further step back: what is a ‘trans child’, what is the evidence base for that claim, and what are the psychological and eventual physical consequences of validating that concept in 11-18 year olds? Then we can decide what the appropriate safeguarding strategies look like for all children in this area.

Why should the “trans” child get to use the changing room first, before the girls who are its designated users? Surely they should wait and use it when the girls have finished? Yet another example of shoving females aside for male entitlement.

WarriorNewAgain

Not mine directly, but families very close to us. It is something I will continue to follow up though (not on anyone else’s behalf to be clear).

His comments seem to me to come from someone who hasn't yet thought about this in any detail.

I wonder what he thinks a 'trans child' is? He may think there's a rigorous diagnostic process taking place before a child is labelled as 'trans'. It's clear from his comments about the parents and health experts that he doesn't think it's just a child confiding in a teacher 'I'm trans, but don't tell my mum'.

He also hasn't thought much about the practicalities of allowing a boy to use the girls' changing rooms and toilets, but only when there are no girls in there. And don't most girls who identify as trans just use the girls' toilets and changing rooms, without demanding access to the boys' facilities? He should have a think about why this is and why he thinks it should be different for boys who identify as trans.

The fundamental flaw here is that there's no such thing as a trans child. There are children with dysphoria, there are children whi are confused and struggling. There are adults with trans identities who project back into the past and say that they were trans children, but there is no such thing.

Yes you are right Franca123

I'm really sorry to hear your school did this to your family too @Helleofabore. I do hope this helps. This is all becoming very frustrating. I wonder if the EHRC is waiting for the final Cass review? It is so difficult as if children with mh difficulties are suddenly adopting a trans identity, it makes it all much harder to deal with their other issue sensitively on top of the way GI tells them to view anyone querying their identity as bigots. So I can see Zahawi is trying to make sure this balance is kept.

Broadly agree with him apart from the use of 'trans child'. Like that's an actual thing. Like previous poster wrote, I'd prefer 'child experiencing confusion about their gender' or such like. To say 'trans child' is to accept that we can be born into wrong bodies which I find a really horrible concept.

I went to a school that briefly had no uniform. Was ok for a while when we all wore jeans and dms but the years below me started to go all out and issues started brewing. Then they brought in a uniform that was literally a light ish blue sweatshirt for all and jeans or black trousers or black skirt and tights. Most wore jeans. Farming community so many could get jeans cheaply at the farm stores. Actually worked really well.

Yes. This.

Aside from all other considerations I would make all school uniforms comfortable track suits with sew on badges for both sexes. A light weight equivalent for summer. So much cheaper and easier all round.

I really hope so. The other parents in my teen’s school who also had their children transitioned by the school, and only found out at report time when their child’s report had a name they had never heard of, are now leaving the school after GCSEs. Neither set were able to make changes but they also didn’t have the health to pursue it further.

I will take it back up with the school when there is some clearer guidance to act on. Either from DoE or if something comes out with the Cass Report.

For how many will it be too late for?

I think he struck the right balance. Focus on the achievable. Sport, respect for the legal and protected rights of minorities. There is current legislation that protects sex and religious based rights. Then wear what you want as long as parents agree.

No need to fight an unnecessary culture war in schools. Teenagers would only be too happy to take up arms.

We cover media harms. But not this one. So frustrating how slowly this is going. I do feel that an increasing number of males who've detransitioned and speaking out will help to provide some balance and actually take this away from being seen as a "feminist issue," and a "always been like this issue" so be kind, as that's too easily and misogynistically dismissed by many.

‘Trans pupils should wear uniform they want — but sport is different’ is simple and sane. It rather neatly divides between something that is 'gender', so do what you want, and sex which is real and immutable.

I'm not sure about the practicalities of using the changing rooms first, but it's at least a way for gender nonconforming males to be accommodated without impacting the girls so I guess better than most alternatives.

As for “once parents and health experts “agree that a child is a trans child”
Well, to be sure all children need protection all of the time, but at least that's identifying the appropriate people rather than teachers 'affirming' without informing parents or getting the relevant experts involved.

The significant number of "trans children" has exploded on this governments watch. They have funded and formally enabled some very toxic adults to promote their ideology to vulnerable children - who of course via social media and "social contagion" are now caught up in the ideology in significant numbers.
He's trying to address the mess many schools have ended up in while keeping an eye on the intimidation / bullying that always flows from these dodgy groups.