Residential trips

[JustFuckOffPlease]

Name changed for this.
I knew it was only a matter of time.

I teach in a secondary school and we've so far not experienced too many challenges to our single sex provisions despite having increasing numbers of teens (mostly girls) that socially transition for a short period.

I'm running a week's residential course (tied to my subject) for 14 yr olds and one biological male who identifies as a girl has requested that they share with their friends. Girls. I responded before half term to this request and said that they must share with friends of the same biological sex. It went very quiet for weeks, but yesterday afternoon, parents have emailed me, cc'ing the Head to express their dissatisfaction that their child can't share with their female friends.

The accommodation we use are dormitories - minimum of 4 sharing, maximum of 8. I've emailed the hostel (who frequently run school trips) to see what their policy is on these matters so I'll hopefully hear on Monday.

We have quite a strong LGBT staff body and an SLT that will tick all the boxes to be seen to be doing the 'right thing'.

I'm anticipating being told that I need to listen to these parents who are insisting that I let their DC share and to not be discriminated against.

What are my options here? There's 4 staff attending this trip, 2 male 2 female. I organise it and I do NOT agree with biological males sharing a bedroom and changing rooms with biological females, no matter what feelings they have.

The pupil has paid a deposit so I've bitten the bullet and told them that I've contacted the course providers and that they have a choice of a large dorm with their same sex friends or, I could sort a smaller room for them and one or two close friends of the same sex.

I kept it simple. They didn't respond but I assume that I'll be hearing back from their parents soon.

I also get on very well with the Chair of Gov's who's fairly conservative in their thinking. Looking forward to seeing them before term breaks for a quick chat.

Head still hasn't been down 🤦‍♀️

Brilliant, OP. There's a chance it could all end here - depends if the mum tries to bully you. You're handling it really well!

Well played Op I do hope that's the end of it.

Good for you, now speak to the insurers. So if the parents make a fuss, you can say "I'm sorry but the school insurers won't permit it."

Well done. I think there will be an interesting discussion at the pupils home this evening. I imagine that most young people would choose going on the trip and sharing with same sex friends than not going on the trip at all. I suppose the issue could well be whether the parents recognise that inclusion on the trip and the child’s desire to be with friends and have the trip experience weighs heavier than making a point about the child’s current gender identification. I hope for the child’s sake that the parents don’t choose this as the hill to die on.

thinking of you OP

💪

Thank you, OP, for standing up for the girls. It requires courage and great care for others to do so, while those who don't are choosing to bury their heads in sand.

Hope it's sorted smoothly and swiftly.

Is there any update on this OP?

Just saw the other thread about NTU's decision.

Hope things worked out alright for you, OP. Really hope you avoided being pressured in any sense.

Which other thread ? In relation to this one ?

@Skye85 , no, about drag queens in school for story time. But I only found the report by three sources online (The Times, Telegraph and another one), so not entirely sure if it's true or not.

Just worried about the direction that the NTU takes. When it's like that, worried if OP would get the support she needs.