SIngle sex changing rooms at secondary school

[greeboclovis]

Last year found out from upset daughter that a trans girl had changed with the girls- daughter was embarrassed but didn’t want to upset child. I contacted school and they advised that this was a one-off as alternative arrangements had been made which on this occasion, child had ignored.
The school now want to discuss situation with me as it appears that the parents of the TG are asking for them to change with girls. Grateful for some advice- daughter really doesn’t want to change with this child but I don’t want her to be made to change elsewhere. I also feel that this is telling her that she can’t object to male bodied persons in changing rooms.

Trans girl? You mean a boy? They should be changing with the girls.

Should not be!!

Legally the school is entitled to exclude a trans child from the changing rooms of the sex with which they identify providing it is a proportionate means to achieving a legitimate aim. In my view the school should refuse the request from the parents of the trans child.

Post on feminism chat - lots of people there knowledgeable about safeguarding and protected characteristics. Also check schools and LEA's own policies on safeguarding children and their loco parentis responsibilities.

And shame on that head for effectively making you responsible. Once you've met I'd be involving the Governors on that one. Ofsted might also have some guidance.

Download a copy of the Transgender Trend resource pack which explains very clearly the responsibilities the school has for providing single sex facilities.

I think they will post a copy to you and the school too. Link here: www.transgendertrend.com/transgender-schools-guidance/

The school’s first comment was that gender is protected under EA so they are legally obligated to let TG into female facilities- I know enough to know that sex based exemptions can even trump GRCs and it’s GRC not gender that is protected. Eventually boiled down to them saying they had sought council advice who said TG should have priority- more probing on my part re exemptions resulted in them saying that legal advice had been sought which said that sexbased exemptions had never been legally tested (ie they were scared of being sued). I ended conversation by saying I would seek further advice. However daughter raised issue this evening- (didn’t mention the call) everyone was talking today about the complaint made (months ago) and how child suffered and who did such a mean thing. D is terrified that she will be found out & has asked that I never contact school again. I am so angry that D has been taught that her feelings are less important than those of a biological boy.

Sex and sexual orientation are protected. Gender reassignment is protected. Gender identity is not, nor is gender on its own. So they are wrong to start with.

Furthermore, Schedule 3 paragraph 27 of the Act is clear that discrimination on grounds of sex is lawful where a person of one sex might reasonably object to the presence of a person of the opposite sex. This is clearly the situation in changing rooms.

In my view their legal advice (if they aren't making it up) is overly cautious.

Your poor daughter. She has the right - as do her classmates - to single sex facilities. This child's gender identity does not trump that. Please have a look at that booklet I linked to.

I'm afraid there are a number of organisations who are wilfully misinterpreting the law and who have been involved in giving schools and local councils guidance which is incorrect and wrongfully and illegally prioritises gender identity over biological sex

Thanks for the advice and link to transgender trend. Looking at the pack, it does look like they were hoping that I would just agree. My concern is that if we continue to pursue this, our daughter might be ostracised - I would personally die in a ditch over it but she was really upset this evening after hearing her contemporaries talking on the subject

I would go to the governors and complain about the way this has been handled. It's absolutely appalling that they are hanging this on a complaint and now the children are indulging in a witch hunt to find out which girl snitched. It should never have been allowed to have happened in the first place.

Are you in touch with any other parents of girls in the same year? I can't imagine many would be happy about this if they knew. I presume the only reason you do is because your daughter was upset

A bit concerned that going to governors or other parents will id my daughter. This is a pretty conservative rural area and I imagine that quite few parents would not be happy either. Think I’m going to ask for face to face with head and ask for equality impact assessment for the girls. OH is also going to have word with friend who works for OFSTED to see if any guidance from that area.