I have been visiting secondary schools and reading policies to make decisions for next year. This won’t be the school we choose so this isn’t a post for help about what to do. Rather I thought others should see this policy. I light of the thread about the boy who raped girls in the girls toilets, that he had accessed by wearing a skirt (it’s not clear if he identifies as transgender or just pretends to be to access girls toilets). I won’t post identifying details or the entire policy, but where I miss parts out it doesn’t alter the context or meaning, just that I’m only posting the concerning or horrifying sections. There’s plenty sections that are fine, that are about not harassing or similar, which are totally appropriate. Although, could also covered just fine in an anti bullying policy I’d imagine.
For context the school this policy comes from has the ofsted rating ‘good’. It has a dedicated autism unit and takes in more pupils with send than many other secondaries in the area. This is not a statutory policy, just an additional extra the school have used resources to put together. The school have been named on everyone’s invited site (incidents of peer on peer abuse).
Policy intention/aims-
‘Learning environment should be supportive, safe and welcoming to gender diversity.’
‘Aim to consistently reduce stigmatisation, and improve the educational integration, of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, allies, and pansexual (lgbt+) individuals.’
‘school commutes to valuing, respecting and understanding individuals’ differing sexual and gender identities, as well as providing support.’
In the part that lists policies to be considered along side this one it lists several, but not safeguarding or child protection policies
In the definitions section it explains lesbian or gay as women/men who are ‘mostly’ attracted to same sex.
‘Queer- umbrella term for sexual and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender.’
‘Trans- umbrella term that refers to all identities within gender identity spectrum other cisgender.’
‘Transgender- an individual whose gender expression or identity is different from that traditionally associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.’
As person may ‘express trans identity through behaviour, clothing, hairstyles, activities, voices, mannerisms.’
Staff responsibilities -
‘ensure staff and pupils understand an individuals preferred name and correct pronouns to use.’
‘conducting themselves in a way to ensure lgbtq+ individuals feel safe and comfortable in school eg ensure they use correct pronouns.’
‘Teaching pupils about diversity and difference and explaining it is good to be understanding of others.’
DSL responsibilities-
‘reviewing relevant policies and procedures to ensure they cater for the individual needs of lgbtq+ people eg changing rooms.’
Pupils responsibilities-
‘adopting an open-minded attitude to difference.’
School councillor responsibilities-
‘ensure lgbtq+ pupils and staffs needs are catered for.’
Next section-
‘teaching of gender identities, sexuality and the lgbtq+ community will be incorporated into pshe lessons to promote acceptance and understanding’
Single gender activities (I presume sex Ed type things as pe/sport comes later) -lgbtq+ pupils will be encouraged to attend the class that represents their preferred gender identity.’
‘Pupils will be educated on inclusive language and name calling, and incidences of such will not be tolerated.’
‘Staff given training on lgbtq+ friendly language.’
‘School will establish which pronouns and terms each lgbtq+ individual would prefer and any terms or pronouns that make them uncomfortable.’
‘any member of school who experiences difficulty in adjusting to the change of terminology will be giving appropriate training and encouraged to use terms the individual is comfortable with.’
‘School will celebrate transgender day of remembrance.’
‘Provide up-to-date on terms, concepts and current understanding of gender identity, gender expression m, gender diversity and sexual orientation, including in training.’
Sport and PE -
‘Lgbtq+ pupils encouraged to engage in pe or sports in a manner consistent with their preferred gender identity.’
‘School manage pe to prevent discomfort or discrimination’ (presumably for lgbt+ pupils)
Toilets and changing rooms-
‘Trans individuals can access the toilets and changing facilities that they prefer.’
‘Unisex toilets and changing facilities available’ (I’ve seen one these ‘unisex’ faculties when I was showed round. It is a block of mixed sex toilets, that are regular toilets with thin flimsy partitions and doors with gaps at top and bottom and wash basins outside. So breaking the building regulation act on school toilets).
Residentials-
‘School will ensure trans pupils are able to sleep in rooms appropriate to their preferred gender identity.’
Documentation-
‘Unofficial school documents will use a trans pupils preferred name’ (it’s obvious below this does not need to include parents agreement).
‘At no point will staff disclose information regarding lgbtq+ pupils gender identity, gender expression or sexuality m, unless instructed to do so by the pupil.’
‘If a trans pupil discloses they wish to attend the school in their preferred gender identity school will enable that. Pupils can request parents are not involved.’
Prejudicial bullying -
‘Transphobia’ after the definition has ‘eg purposely using the incorrect pronoun’ and that this ‘will be dealt with seriously.’ Followed directly by ‘Staff have the power to discipline pupils who misbehave inside and outside of school premises.’ So even once children leave school they can be disciplined by school the next day for not using the pronouns a trans kid prefers.
At the end they have a glossary. In addition to the earlier definition the ones that are down right terrifying in light of this policy are-
‘Bigender- a gender identity where the person moves between feminine and masculine gender identity and behaviours depending on the situation they are in.’
The list has FAAB & MAAB.
‘Gender queer- a person who identifies their gender identity as neither female or male or a combination of female and male or in between or beyond genders.’
‘Genderfluid- the way in which gender identity changes over time. The person might switch between male and female, gender neutral, or any other non binary identity, or a combination of more than one.’
‘Gender identity- persons internal feelings of being male or female, regardless of what they were assigned at birth.’
‘Gender variant- behaviour or gender expression that does not masculine or feminine norms.’
‘Non binary- does not conform to the social norms of female and male.’
‘Pangender- people who identify as all genders.’
‘Pansexual- attracted to people of any sex or gender. Same as omnisexual.’
‘Stealth-trans individual who lives as transgender identity but who does not reveal transgender status.’
‘Mia gender- assign a gender to individuals based on the gender they were assigned at birth rather than their preferred gender identity.’
So, ignoring the grammar used by people who are involved in secondary education, please mumsnet fwr tell me your thoughts.