Secondary School mixed sex changing rooms complaint: Update from school (again)

[TangenitalContrivences]

Hello everyone - Have just received a further update from my daughters (14) secondary school (Brighton) regarding my complaint - which is at stage 2 - go to governors complaint, and my further email to the school asking them to comply with the EHRC interim guidance.

I'll copy both responses below, redacted.

I would very, very much appreciate specific feedback to include in my responses to the school, it's been people here (and elsewhere) who have helped me put together really powerful letters that have clearly rattled the school.

However - there is still a male in the female changing spaces at this school. Therefore it is mixed sex.

(link to the last discussion if you want context 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 )

Yes it’s ping pong, but it’s Olympic ping pong, great letter! 😀

Great you’re speaking to a solicitor; I would 100% follow all their advice.

From what I know of others’ experience I think it has to be played very carefully around what they advise. Highly likely no press till after lawful procedures have been followed through

Agreed, I'd put the lawyers first and the journalists a distant second. Good to have someone who will know the backstory and can write a good piece when it all goes to court though.

Seeking legal counsel must be the next step, I think - everyone is passing the buck while children are knowingly put at risk.

They are willingly breaking the law. This is very simple law-ing in my honest non lawyer opinion

Girls and their bodies are the righteous sacrifice to boys.

It's very important this not be stopped. Apparently. It defeats me that these people are in a responsible position over children.

If anything happens to one of those girls, they are going to be legally absolutely fucked on basic duty of care. Their own political beliefs are the only thing they're considering at all.

I would suggest trying a personal letter directly to Akua Reindorf as well as to the EHRC in general (I did recently have a reply within hours from the EHRC which was a cut and paste knee jerk email and needed to reply again saying no, read the email, they're obviously batting back a tidal wave of dross), and also to Baroness Nicholson in the HoL. Naomi Cunningham may also be interested in a general way. And Sex Matters are also likely to be interested.

Injunction?

with respect, if there’s a solicitor to contact (or have you already spoken to them?) with SSA, I think it’s best to stick to that for now and see how it pans out.

those orgs and people could be future steps if the lawyer for what ever reason cannot support/ advise/ lawyer etc (though I don’t understand why they wouldn’t in this situation.)

Write to all the papers?

I can't add anything useful, but just want to say again what an absolute LEGEND you are.

As others have said - see what advice the lawyers have? Worth remembering the Crown Prosecution Service did a very speedy reverse ferret when their predatory "trans guidelines for schools" faced the prospect of a Judicial Review and promptly binned them.

I do think this is a potentially big case and would love to see senior leaders & governors dragged into a court to explain why they're so determined to compel girls to undress / shower / sleep (school trips) alongside boys. But I'm also aware that a number of parents have stepped back from taking cases against schools who were transitioning their children in secret. Mainly because of their concerns for the welfare of their child. There is the potential that adults prioritising trans extremist views like this may also be comfortable with using the usual bullying and intimidation tactics against an individual child.

What I'm saying is, this is a difficult decision. You mustn't feel obligated in any way to carry this fight to the ultimate if you feel it's not in your children's best interests. We're all behind you and my guess is that any fundraising would be easy given the safeguarding breaching nature of the school's behaviour. But only you can weigh up the personal risks.

But a sincere thank you - these letters are awesome. I suspect that most schools not in the grip of trans ideology would have speedily returned to safeguarding principles on receipt of them.

Seconded ❤️

I think they're still not taking the matter seriously. They still think they can get you to fuck off if they stonewall enough.

I hope you get some good legal advice about your options here. There simply must be some way of forcing them to comply with the law of the land.

I don't have anything, I think you've done all you can, especially getting in touch with a solicitor. I hope the journos are from the Mail, or Telegraph!

They absolutely cannot claim to have been in ignorance, so much more so since you've set it all out for them.

On several occasions!

Decades ago I was a school business manager and in that capacity used to attend Governor meetings. I can assure you that if there were ever a hint that we were failing in our care and not adequately safeguarding the pupils, there would have been the most enormous, screeching u-turn in whichever policy was at fault!

I simply can't believe that the Headteacher at your DDs' school is digging his heels in like this.

Do you know if boys are still accessing the girls' changing rooms (and vice versa)? The only way I can make sense of his position is if the trans children have been told to use unisex facilities (so there is no ongoing safeguarding risk) but he doesn't want to change the school's actual policy until he's had all the guidance from EHRC and the LA.

Dear OP well done! I’ve just read all your posts and lots of the thread. I think your case might be the one to tip the schools over into reality land again. Please keep going. It’s depressing that it will take a man to do this, but hey I don’t care any more. Just keep slugging away. Thank you.

Thirded 🫶

Application for judicial review of their guidance and policies.

If I'm keeping up to date, the head has so far refused to say one way or the other

Is the OP's daughter still attending the school? If so, she'll know what's going on currently, surely?

My God. I'm afraid I have nothing useful to add - you know far far more than me - but I just want to applaud your latest letter. It took my breath away. You are incredible.

@TangenitalContrivences - you are an absolute bloody hero! Well done for your dogged persistence and I hope it eventually pays off.

It is sickening to see the attitude from the Head - basically they’re saying that they don’t care about the actual harms to girls in their care, as long as the trans lobby are placated.

I just double checked again with my daughter who is next to me eating pizza and yes, trans identified males are still in her changing rooms.

Waiting for legal processes takes time. I do think the journalist approach might work quicker, though have no knowledge about the nature of local papers and journalism these days.

Thanks, OP. So, they are breaking the law right now, then?