Schools to get uniform and sports advice over transgender pupils - The Times

[LittleWhingingWoman]

Schools to get uniform and sports advice over transgender pupils

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bcd5dee2-b832-11ec-b78c-2329cf2d6bd9?shareToken=2f6705573745605432978779ee151a55

This looks promising. These bits in particular:

"Sources said the new advice, which is for all schools, will help clarify what teachers are required to do under equality laws. They cited school uniform, lavatories and sports teams as areas that are intended to be covered.

One said this was not an attempt to engage in a “culture war” but to produce clear advice and end confusion about the Equality Act and the Gender Recognition Act. The EHRC issued guidance for schools in 2014, but has asked the DfE to publish its own version.

The department issued guidance in 2020 on gender awareness and the curriculum, which said teachers should not tell children that they might be a different gender, based on their personality or the clothes they want to wear. However, the new guidance is expected to be more comprehensive and cover how teachers should address practical issues."

Fingers crossed. Uniform isn’t an issue for me but sports and facilities need to be according to sex.

I hope the guidance covers the 'teaching' of transgenderism.

It’s a start but it doesn’t look at the immediate unquestioned support of social transition in schools which is a big problem. Baroness Falkner is well aware of the issue but has ignored attempts to engage with concerned parents. Until the EHRC updates their Technical Guidance to Schools, activist schools will continue to have a fallback for justifying adopting pronouns etc even where parents express concern.

I just wish that these long need changes and advice was used in Scotland

I think there will eventually be a trickle effect in Scotland but it will be pushed by parents and concerned teachers, not politicians. I’m completely flabbergasted that with the exception of Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tories aren’t engaging with parental concerns over gender ideology in schools. They have come out supporting single sex spaces in the upcoming Council elections but are silent on GI in schools and last week said they support the inclusion of trans in the proposed conversion therapy bill (ignoring the Cass Review). As an opposition party, they have been solidly disappointing.

Up here, change will come despite the politicians not via them.

With regard uniform and sports kit, they should just have one uniform for all (except swimming) trousers or shorts for all imo. Blazers/shirts buttoned same side (I admit, I don't even know which way m/f is). Not only would it reduce any issues with uniform, it would also safe parents money as clothes could be handed down more often.

If they clear up the interpretation of the Equality Act and definition of 'gender reassignment' it would be a start.
Need to tackle how LGBTQ+ clubs are being run (by students - usually older students, for all years), advice to schools by 'inclusion groups' who are supporting social transition/self-ID by Gillick competence, without any medical diagnosis or psychological assessment. And RSE teaching resources which teach changing sex (referred to as gender, always) is as straightforward as taking a pill.
The rot is very deep and the ideology not chalked at all

*challenged

One option would just be default male. Girls have different body shapes and uniform needs to recognise that far more than it does at the moment. The answer is not squeeze girls into cloths designed fir a male body shape.

Uniform is easy and I think my kids’ school got it right. They simply took any reference to sex off the list, so it now says pupils must wear grey skirt or trousers, white open-neck shirt or white shirt and tie, blazer. Works perfectly and doesn’t force the girls to wear trousers if they don’t want to.

Interesting to read about Teachers for Evidence-Based Education
Look forward to reading their suggested guidelines.

Agree, Obelisk, that sounds like a perfect decision and a way forward for all schools. Trousers are not a default uniform, just like men are not default humans. No one would suggest skirts for all as a default, why not, if trousers can be suggested?

Rogdmum, I feel that EHRC have a huge job ahead clarifying the Equality Act in all their guidance, not just for schools, although that is also essential and hopefully is being planned. The capture of the independent regulator by a lobby group, combined with deliberate and concerted efforts by the same lobby group to disseminate incorrect interpretation of the UK law will take years to reverse. But here's to the start, the tide IS turning!

My daughter would be really dismayed if she couldn’t wear a skirt to school. Her shape just doesn’t work for most trousers and she would be uncomfortable and distracted. A choice of skirt or trousers for everyone would work fine though.

I have very happy memories about how free I felt in maxi skirts at secondary. I would have been devastated if the school had then said that everyone had to wear trews.

Trousers for everyone isn’t gender-neutral policy. Wear what you want is gender-neutral policy: skirt or trousers.

My daughter would be really dismayed if she couldn’t wear a skirt to school. Her shape just doesn’t work for most trousers and she would be uncomfortable and distracted. A choice of skirt or trousers for everyone would work fine though

Yes it would seem.the only ones ever allowed to be what would be considered " girly" are boys

As if girls cant wear skirts like pink.bows and still be strong , capable etc

Its always if boys cant/won't wear skirts no one can.

How on Earth is gendered uniform advice a good thing? This is dreadful. Schools should be moving to simpler uniforms that anyone can wear.

Just make the uniform look same for boys and girls - but have the tailoring correct for each sex.

Of course the whole drama would be around which way the buttons go (default make I suspect).

Uniform is easy. White shirt, tie, jumper, blazer all the same. Uniform skirt or dress trousers in x colour. Take away sex.
Toilet/changerooms/sports/awards/where you sleep on residential trips is also easy: separate by sex.

No under 18 can have a sex reassignment certificate. Teenage people have always played with identity and how they present themselves to the world. This should be treated the same. Kids trying to figure out who they are. Not being told they can actually change sex when they can't. They can only change hair, makeup and clothes.

It was great when the kids were in nursery and reception a they just all wore polo shirts and joggers/jumper. Unisex worked fine.

Some kind of tracksuit that they could all wear all of the time would be great.

With no need to get changed, therefore anyone who is uncomfortable getting changed. If they want they can take a spare t shirt for PE days. Then they would not need to carry a PE kit and books on PE days.

Single sex toilets, and some non binary toilets for those that want them.

Sports should be segregated by sex

Yeah the uniform policy should just be skirt or trousers, shirt and tie. No need to specify which sex must wear which. I don't have a problem if a male wants to wear a skirt to school. Much more comfortable in the summer when it's hot.

It was great when the kids were in nursery and reception a they just all wore polo shirts and joggers/jumper. Unisex worked fine

They weren't trying to get shirts over boobs though or developed arses that meant the skirts appeared shorter than everyone else's or have swimmers thighs that meant unless you had stretchy skinny trousers they didn't fit.