Hello fellow parents.
Some of you may know I am engaged in a debate with the head, governors and head of safeguarding at a very large Brighton secondary school about whether changing rooms (including swimming) should be single sex or mixed sex.
The Brighton Trans Toolkit says they can be mixed sex.
The EHRC interim guidance says they must be single sex.
At least one Brighton school is ignoring the interim guidance and keeping changing spaces mixed sex.
I need parents who want to protect girls (and boys!) from sexual voyeurism, assault, an invasion of their privacy and dignity, and all of the other great reasons to keep changing spaces single sex, to join me in writing polite, legal, safeguard focussed emails to the head, safeguarding lead and chair of governors, at their school.
ALL Brighton secondary schools follow the trans toolkit. the trans toolkit explicitly encourages mixed sex situations which are a safeguarding nightmare.
It is really important that parents who care about safeguarding - like you! - take a stand and ensure our children are being looked after by the people we entrust them to.
How do you join in?
Very simple - we start with a single letter to the school that says something along the lines of:
Subject: Safeguarding and Compliance with Equality Act Guidance
Dear [Headteacher’s Name], [Designated Safeguarding Lead], and Chair of Governors,
I hope this message finds you well.
I am writing to request clarification regarding the school’s safeguarding policies and their compliance with current legal guidance, particularly in light of the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the definition of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010, and the interim guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Could you please confirm:
- Whether the school currently follows the Brighton & Hove City Council Trans Inclusion Schools Toolkit, and if so, which version?
- In light of the Supreme Court judgment, are there any circumstances under which pupils of the opposite biological sex are permitted to share changing rooms, toilets, or overnight sleeping accommodation?
- Is the school actively following the EHRC’s interim guidance regarding the implementation of the Equality Act?
These questions are asked from a safeguarding and legal compliance perspective, and I would be grateful for a clear and prompt response.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Details]
[Your Child’s Name, if appropriate]
(And if anyone wants the long sorry saga, there are three threads to read sorry
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5269520-my-14-year-old-daughter-has-been-sharing-school-changing-rooms-including-swimming-with-a-male-the-school-never-told-me-or-her-what-would-you-do?page=1
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5309038-secondary-school-complaint-about-mixed-sex-changing-rooms-update-school-response-and-request-for-help-writing-the-escalated-complaint-to-governors
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5330837-secondary-school-mixed-sex-changing-rooms-complaint-update-from-school-again
)