How should I raise PE changing room concerns with the school?

[Berrycharming]

Looking for some advice… DD is in Yr10, mixed school, she came home upset as she believes another girl who has only been at the school for this year is in fact a boy. Whilst that in itself is fine, she has no issue with it, this student has been sat in the PE changing room whilst they are getting ready - oddly this student doesn’t have to do PE so literally just sits on a bench whilst the girls get changed. DD noticed this week a pretty prominent Adams Apple and then paying more attention says there isn’t anything particularly ‘feminine’ about the student. A little Facebook sleuthing also suggests this student may have been born a boy. How would you approach this with the school? Surely this is a safeguarding issue? But we don’t have proof.

If stay with the policy. Find out what it is either online or by requesting it. Then you can query it if not happy

It is difficult to say without proof but I would discuss with school that this student is making your DD uncomfortable by being in the changing room when they are not getting changed- surely the student could wait elsewhere if they are exempt from P.E.

I think if they just got changed and did PE it would be less of an issue, but the fact they are just sitting there and not participating is a bit concerning.

This is unlawful.

I would ask for this thread to be moved to the Feminism: Sex and Gender thread. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights There is a lot of good advice with links to case law.

This link takes you to a recent Scottish Judgement about school toilets https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/media/mv5d53jw/2026csoh52-petition-of-de-and-fg-against-west-lothian-council.pdf

Write to the head teacher raising it as a safeguarding issue. Following the Supreme Court Judgement sex in the Equality Act 2010 is defined as biological and for a female single sex space to be single sex no biological male is permitted to enter.

A poster @SingleSexSpacesInSchools has several threads on their engagement with his daughter’s school about this issue. There are some really good letters you may be able to adapt.