Ministers finally agree guidance on trans pupils

Quite.

The issue is that gendered expectations around presentation shouldn't be imposed by schools.

Gender norms and gendered expectations are part of the problem in the first place!

The Equality Act, I think. Children having the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.

I work across a range of schools. By far, the majority have uniforms. The majority have some elements of choice within the uniforms (e.g shorts, trousers, or skirt). Sone specify what girls and boys should wear- this being different. Most that include rules about hair have different rules for boys and girls.

Well yes. Uniforms should not be gendered. What do skirts and trousers have to do with sex?

I am not uncomfortable with children not being allowed to choose their own names or make their own clothing choices.

They are not little adults. They are children.

Why would this change any clothing or hair rules? I don't see why getting rid of the regressive sexist trans nonsense means we need to regress on uniform codes.

I disagree with the bit about uniforms.

I think we should do a lot more to reduce gendered expectations about appearance and so all uniform and rules about hair styles should be the same for both sexes.

I agree with not being able to choose pronouns or which sex segregated facilities.

I would like to see schools widening the bandwidth of gendered expectations about personality and preference and helping young people feeling comfortable being gender non conforming

This is about children - most of who wear uniform at school. Many schools (not all) now have unisex uniform requirements.

Well, this looks interesting.

I look forward to the response from those who've been advising up until now.

I am uncomfortable with people not being allowed to choose their own names or make their own clothing choices, within the context of a dress code. And I don't think dress codes should be gendered.

True. There's been a deliberate (and successful) attempt to deskill teachers and stop them using all the normal safeguarding and pastoral care principles that schools have used for years with other vulnerable children, claiming that children thinking they're the opposite sex must be treated differently.

Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

After my rant 😅 It is a relief to see this finally reaching publication. But there will be a massive row - trans lobby groups have had completely free access to schools (often funded by the DfE, local authorities etc) so the idea that there are age inappropriate aspects to this will be a shock to young clueless activist adults in schools and all the unions will be in difficulties given their unthinking Stonewall allegiances.

If they aren’t actually going to change anything at school, then they don’t need to tell potentially abusive parents anything.

There are no trans children. Children are male or female, some will suffer discomfort with their developing body due to sexuality/body image & need support, but there is no such thing as a trans child.

Presumably they're hoping to avoid legal challenge? We know that trans activists have relentlessly targeted children and schools with every discussion about them being swerved into discussions about adult demands.

We must return to seeing children as needing safeguarding from age inappropriate concepts (and adults attempting to breach their boundaries). Children are not mini adults - psychologically or physically.

This group of vulnerable children are not exempt from safeguarding (no matter how much the trans lobby would like them to be).
Schools have well established protocols for dealing with all children who are at risk of significant harm and use them for all children.

It's a naive idea that some adults in schools can keep secrets for this oh so special group that plays straight into the hands of predatory adults who promote keeping secrets with children from the adults who care for them. It needs to be called out every time it's suggested.

No children are ever exempt from safeguarding !

They have to leave room for exceptions otherwise they'd need to change the law and they don't want to have to do that as it would get messy.

Exceptions to what? What law would they have to change?

They have to leave room for exceptions otherwise they'd need to change the law and they don't want to have to do that as it would get messy.

As for 'must keep boys and girls toilets separate' that would be interesting as many schools now have unisex toilets and saying that they have to change them back could be an issue. It's more likely, I think, that they will say that there has to be single sex provision as well as any unisex provision.

Definitely sounds promising.... Although we've been here before with the interminably imminent guidance.

The exceptional circumstances need to be understood further. Sounds like a potential loophole.

@OldCrone and @JanesLittleGirl I would agree that existing protocols (inc social services) are already available if a child is deemed to be at risk from harm at home.

I'm guessing here but if teachers fear that the child would be at risk then the school should involve Social Services.

If this is the case then standard protocols should be followed similar to any other circumstances in which the child is suspected or known to be at risk of abuse from their parents.

Maybe it should only be when it has been proved beyond all doubt that the child has literally been "born in the wrong body" (i.e. never).