School Transgender Policy

[AlexanderHamilton]

Firstly let me say that I have never considered myself a feminist as I tended to associate the term with a radical men hating ethos. I have always supported equal opportunity though and have tried to teach my children to respect everone's rights, feelings and beliefs.

I've just been on ds's school website to look something up and noticed that there has now appeared a new Transgender Policy. I am very unhappy about the wording of this, especially in reference to changing and toilet facilities. It doesn't mention PE but I am concerned about the effect on women's sport. (And this a school where ds as a boy was not allowed to take Dance in Year 9 as it was only available to girls and he had to do football & rugby instead.

I need to think about how to phrase a response to school especially as I have a son, not a daughter (albeit one who has been a bit confused about his sexuality in the past and at one point said he thought he was bisexual but we as parents have not been informed at all about this new policy it just appeared hidden away in a little used corner of the website (I tend to go on that bit as its where I find info about SEN policies).

So what I would urge everyone to do is to keep checking their children's schol website and se if they too have surreptitiously brought in such policies.

Ive just trawled through our primary school website and came across their transgender policy..... it's awful! Eg. Transgender Child must be allowed to use toilets and changing rooms of their choice and basically anyone who objects needs re educating and it is the uncomfortable nate born child that must change in segregation.

I'm not one to cause a fuss and being a small school we don't have any gender non conforming children at present, but if we ever get put in that position ill be marching in there with a copy of transgender trend!

we don't have any gender non conforming children at present, but if we ever get put in that position ill be marching in there with a copy of transgender trend!

It might be better to make the school aware of the law concerning single sex provision while the issue is still theoretical rather than personified in a child who is (or whose parents claim is) transgender.

There was a transgender child at dd's secondary school and I have no problems with how it was handles except that I think the school should have changed its uniform policyu earlier and not forced the poor child to wear a skirt for 3 years.

But ds is at a different school, its a 13-18 school.

Surreptitious is perhaps OTT. There will be a lot of policies that are no the explicitly brought Toby the attention of parents, and it is publically available on the school website. If the school is part of a multi academy trust the policy may have been set at Trust level rather than school level.

Being concerned about the implications for sport when you say it doesn't mention PE also seems a bit like you're looking for something to be annoyed with it for.

I think part of the problem is that as there is practically no case law in this area schools are being badly advised. Sex is a protected characteristic and the Equalities Act specifically allows segregation according to sex, not gender.

Alex
Most school copy and paste model guidance produced by their LA or model policies produced by other organisations.
Freedom of Information requests have revealed that impact assessments were not undertaken before producing these policies. The organisations''get out of jail free' card on this issue has been to say that individual schools are supposed to conduct their own impact assessments before implementing their advice as policy. They do fail to say this to school in their guidance documents though!
I suggest you ask your school for details of the impact assessments they undertook before producing the policy. I'll eat my hat if they did one! You can then advise them to withdraw the policy until a proper impact assessment is undertaken.

www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/resources/toolkits-booklets-guides

Many schools and LAs seem to be using these policies.

Our school doesn't seem to have one online but it is a boys school (until sixth form) - although there is one transgender student (m2f) so I assume they are in sixth form (or else how is that fair?).

Now if they boarded I would wonder how that works on a safeguarding basis for them or the other students,

The Academy is committed to a culture where all students do not experience discrimination or harassment and will fully support a student who wishes to change gender. The promotion of a respectful and inclusive community is one of our core values.

The Academy recognises that the issues around a change of gender can raise concerns for the student involved and for other staff and students. The aim is to provide a supportive environment where concerns can be discussed in a supportive way while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.

Some people transition from one gender to their preferred gender with ease but others may take an extended time. Some people will transition to the preferred gender full-time while others might choose to live in their preferred gender part-time. There are many reasons why a person may not transition permanently to their preferred gender and it is important for the Academy to be flexible and supportive and stand clearly against any discrimination or harassment.

Single sex facilities – the student should have access to the changing rooms and toilets of the acquired gender.
Consult the student on how helpful it might be to discuss and explain this to other students and staff who use the facilities. It is not acceptable to restrict the student to the use of the Academy’s unisex/disabled facilities, though the student may choose to use these initially

Managing the reactions of students and staff

The student may wish to tell the other students and staff about the plans to transition individually or may
choose to have a chosen representative do this.
Guidance can be circulated to staff and students – though no individual details should be circulated by email.
There should be an opportunity for students and staff to ask questions or raise any issues.
Head of Year will promote a clear message of support and the Academy’s approach and commitment to an
inclusive and respectful learning environment.
Remind staff and students that information concerning a person’s gender recognition is confidential and
‘protected information’ which should not be disclosed to a third party without the student’s consent.

Wonga - when other policies have been introduced or updated we have recieved an email telling us the updated/new policy is available on the website.

Transgender Trend's School Toolkit can be ordered :
www.transgendertrend.com/transgender-schools-guidance/

The differences between its approcah and that of Allsorts / Mermaids is outlined in this Guardian article (May 2018) which may be helpful to share with schools:
www.theguardian.com/education/2018/may/15/transgender-row-teachers-afraid-challenge-breast-binding

It doesn't mention PE and I think it should be made clear whether a male born person will be able to take part in girls PE lessons given there are huge self esteem issues with girls and sport. Especially since the school currently chooses to offer different sports to males and females in Year 9, thus reinforcing gender stereotypes.

Freedom of Information requests have revealed that impact assessments were not undertaken before producing these policies. The organisations''get out of jail free' card on this issue has been to say that individual schools are supposed to conduct their own impact assessments before implementing their advice as policy. They do fail to say this to school in their guidance documents though!

Schools are introducing these policies as though they are advice which is coming from government. The organisations responsible for sending this advice into schools are mainly classed as charities, so even when they receive government funding for producing the advice, they do not have to carry out impact assessments.

As MsBeaujangles says, it is up to each school to carry out impact assessments, but they largely don't seem to be aware of this.

Schools are being advised solely by the trans lobby groups who we know are misrepresenting both facts, legislation and guidance. A few suggestions to raise with schools who are implementing some of this very flawed advice. Select as appropriate.

1. Why are they prioritising the protected characteristic 'gender reassignment' over those of sex and religion? In removing sex segregated spaces (in defiance of education legislation) they are forcing all children to share sex segregated spaces despite any religious beliefs and their rights to privacy, dignity and safety.

1. As this is 'advice' from lobby groups and not legislation, have they consulted their pupils about whether they wish to share toilets and showers with the opposite sex?

1. Are they aware of this guidance that states that schools MUST provide sex segregated toilets and washing facilities (changing rooms):

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/719398/Gender-separation-guidance.pdf

(see last bullet point)

1. Safeguarding. Check the policy to see whether they are breaching their own safeguarding rules in terms of confidentiality, sharing information with parents?

1. In the light of the appalling statistics about sexual harassment and assault in schools, are they are teaching children about boundaries and the right to say no? If so, how does this work when they are separately telling children that they MUST undress in front of someone from the opposite sex?

1. Ask whether the school's public liability insurer will cover any claims made against the school if your child is negatively impacted in any way by the policy? Have they checked?

There was a transgender child at dd's secondary school and I have no problems with how it was handles except that I think the school should have changed its uniform policyu earlier and not forced the poor child to wear a skirt for 3 years.

What an odd way to think about it - why is it OK to force anyone to wear a skirt? I don't have a gender identity, and I was forced to wear a skirt for a number of years at school - I don't think that's any less unfair than making someone who has a male gender identity do it!

It’s not ok to force anyone to wear a skirt hence why I think trousers should have been made an option for everyone much sooner.

As it happened no other female born student chose to wear trousers even after the change in rules but at least now they can if they want to.

As it happened no other female born student chose to wear trousers even after the change in rules but at least now they can if they want to.

Habit is hard in schools - I had to wear a skirt in primary, then in my first secondary (girls only) the girls wore trousers at least as much as skirts, especially in winter, then in my 3rd secondary school (mixed) it was technically allowed, but in practice greatly frowned upon for girls to wear skirts, so whilst I wasn't officially forced to wear one, I was forced by all social convention. I can count on the fingers of one hand how often I've worn a skirt since (only at weddings basically!)

They since changed the skirts in September to horrible tartan ones but still none of the girls are wearing trousers. (Dd is in 6th form now so doesn’t affect her).

I have check Dds school website.i distinctly remember reading a document that stated they had received recent training on the transgender issues but gave no details about what that meant.

But now I can't find it. Can't work out if it means they are going to publish a whole policy or whether they have realised it all amounts to grooming and puts girls at risk

School's Diversity and Equality Policy will be based on 2010 Equality Act. It will list the 9 protected characteristics which include specifically sex and gender reassignment.

As current thread discusses, many schools (as is the case still with many public services, charities, businesses etc) will incorrectly quote the act. It raises the possibility of the legisation being misapplied.

This morning Action For Children corrected its Diversity Statement.

It is worth checking school's policy.

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3404539-Major-childrens-charity-Stonewall-Mermaids-and-gender