Residential trips

This boils my blood OP, I would kick up merry hell.

Take this to the safeguarding lead. There is absolutely no way a male should be allowed to share the girls accommodation. I would be tempted to anonymously let some of the parents know? If I thought my daughter would be subjected to this I would be livid. Take to local press is a good idea. Single sex spaces should be exactly that - single sex.

I would request a proper risk assessment is taken (ultimately a male fully intact sleeping with females - there is a risk of pregnancy). Then it becomes obvious to the school the actual risks involved.

I would then suggest the school seek kegal advice - after risk assessment has been done and risks are acknowleged , are the achool liable if sexual assualt took place? (Mentioning liability always makes the conversation a bit more serious and a bit less rainbows and glitter)

I would also suggest to the school that they seek legal advice on the equality act's single sex provisions, incase they are in breach of them.

Then I would also request that the school inform the parents of the girls who will be sharing with this male. Then let the parents of these girls have their say!

I think just ducking out of this is not an option. You have a responsibility to protect these girls.

Also presumably you agreed to do the trip assuming usual safeguarding protocols would be in place. if they are going to throw them out of the window you presumably would be perfectly entitled to say no to the trip.

How would the other girls who would be expected to share with the trans child feel? And their parents? Could you ask them discreetly ? (so that they didn't feel obliged or pressured either way)

When I was asked to do this in Guiding I said I was no longer available to take the trip
Appreciate that is different as it is a voluntary role and not your job
For me it was a safeguarding issue
And honestly Guide camp has enough challenges without this

I would want to be very clear to SLT that you have sex separated dorms for a reason on school trips and that reason doesn't change just because someone is trans/NB.
I wouldn't want to be responsible for welfare with mixed sex dorms.
DD's school was always very clear on trips that kids were under no circumstances to go into opposite sex rooms, even in the day time to grab something.

That is really tough.

As a parent of a girl, I would feel really really let down by the school if they put my child in with a male.

I would probably go as far as removing them from the school and commencing legal action (if I could).

I would also try and get the press involved.

Is there any way you can pull out of the trip?

I doubt opting out is an option and doesn't solve the obvious issue of potentially mixed sex accommodation happening.

I'd just focus on the safeguarding and risk assessment issues, of having a mixed sex room. It puts everyone in a vulnerable situation. Does your insurance for the trip have anything about what's expected?

Is there any way you can get an additional room and let this child have their own room? Might increase the cost of the trip for everyone but possibly not too much?

I don’t think this is your call. I’d put it to SMT/DSL teams.

Do you have a safeguarding lead at school who you can bring into the conversation as an ally?

That is a tough one and the answer depends on how much heat you are willing to take. Personally i would not be responsible for a trip involving teenagers and mixed sex sleeping arrangements. It is not compatible with safeguarding. If this arrangment is what happens then i dont think you have much option but to bow out.

You could bow out, and not state this as your reason.

But any which way, you will take some heat for this.