Schools and the Supreme Court ruling

[EightiesRobot]

How are secondaries dealing with this? My daughter said that in her school they have been given assemblies on how trans rights are being attacked and asking students to let teachers know if they want new gender identity pronouns.

The DfE guidance on gender questioning children is still draft and statutory guidance on safeguarding that links to it is still under review because of that. While this continues to drift schools seem to be set on confusing children about girls rights to boundaries and making it harder to fix the problems arising from gender identity ideology. Are other schools taking a more sensible, girl-centred approach?

Good grief what on earth do they mean - trans rights being attacked- have they explained what they mean? Have they read the Cass report?

Just the same as many public sector bodies are saying I think - need to give solidarity to the trans community, no recognition that it is a women’s rights issue etc. And this is a single sex school which relies on single sex exceptions in the EA 2010

That's interesting, a single-sex school. Do they accept boys who claim to be girls?

Good lord, OP! That seems extreme and frankly weird. You must have a committed activist on the staff.

Our schools have made no mention at all of it, because why would they? Thankfully they've always maintained single sex facilities. And Cass made it clear that gender questioning children being socially 'affirmed' is not a neutral act. The school guidelines also caution against this.

I'd be making a plan. First of all seeking a meeting, or at least writing to ask what's going on and what their policies are re 'transitioning' children.

I suppose mixed.sex schools have had to deal with single sex exemptions and the direct consequences of removing them more than single sex schools have, so maybe they're a bit clearer on what the implications are. Its easier to whang on about this stuff when it's all theory and word salad, less so when you have smart arse teenagers pushing the boundaries.

So while single sex schools may have escaped some of the issues, they may be left unfortunately open to safeguarding fails like this.

As far as I know, no. They are just very affirming to their girls who claim not to be, going firmly against the reasons we sent our daughters there in the first place - being in a school where they would not be facing gendered stereotyping.

Yes, I do need to decide how to follow up on this.

I suggest starting with questions. If you're in Scotland parent council is a good route, I guess governors in England but don't know much about how that works!

Please report this to Ofsted. They have broken many guidelines here. Political impartiality is a Teaching Standard.

Very good point.

you point out that the whole of KCSIE is statutory and that the draft bits are still statutory shoulds. There’s a draft part on prevent so you could also ask if they’re ignoring that

On top of the impartiality bit.

the part that’s NOT draft is that gender questioning children should be supported by external professionals. So any kids changing pronouns at school need to be under a Gender clinic, or the school is transitioning them which they don’t have the expertise to do

Thanks, this is all really helpful advice

Hello sorry I missed this thread - I am in the middle of an epic battle with my daughters school about mixed sex changing rooms:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5330837-secondary-school-mixed-sex-changing-rooms-complaint-update-from-school-again?page=1

I think in your situation you have a huge amount to complain about, make a formal complaint to the governors at the very least about it.

Have you contacted the school yet?

No, I haven’t yet. At least being a single sex school I don’t need to worry about mixed sex facilities. Good luck with your complaint. It’s incredible that a school can think they are being reasonable with such a policy and what that is teaching their students.

I mean I'd send them something like this.... don't let it stand.

To: [Headteacher’s Name], Headteacher
Cc: [Chair of Governors’ Name], Chair of Governors
[School Name]
[School Address]
[Date]

Subject: Concern Regarding Politicised Assemblies and Safeguarding Breach

Dear [Headteacher’s Name] and [Chair of Governors’ Name],

I am writing to raise serious concerns following a report that [School Name] has recently held assemblies framing “trans rights” as being “under attack” and inviting pupils to inform staff of new pronouns they wish to be recognised by. This is extremely troubling and, in light of recent legal developments, raises important safeguarding, legal, and ethical issues that must be addressed immediately.

The Supreme Court’s December 2023 ruling clarified that under the Equality Act 2010, “sex” means biological sex. This has direct implications for safeguarding policies, sex-based rights in education, and lawful communication with and about pupils. The EHRC’s interim guidance (April 2024) further supports the primacy of biological sex in matters such as changing facilities, toilets, sleeping arrangements, and safeguarding. It is therefore unacceptable for schools to present a one-sided ideological narrative without acknowledging this binding legal context.

Encouraging children—some as young as eleven or twelve—to declare new gender identities and pronouns, especially in a public or pressured environment like an assembly, risks breaching safeguarding responsibilities. This could amount to coercive or compelled speech, particularly where students feel unable to dissent or question the ideological framing. Children should not be led to believe that questioning or refusing to adopt these new norms makes them bigoted or unkind.

I am compelled to ask:

• Why is a political narrative being presented in school assemblies, especially one which implies that legally protected and widely held views (such as the importance of biological sex in safeguarding) are harmful or invalid?
• What steps are you taking to present a balanced range of perspectives in assemblies, in line with the Education Act 1996, which prohibits the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in schools?
• How are you ensuring that children who hold or express the view—entirely lawful and indeed upheld by the Supreme Court—that sex matters are not stigmatised or coerced into silence?
• Are staff being trained on the legal duties under the Equality Act 2010, the meaning of the EHRC interim guidance, and the Supreme Court ruling’s implications for school policy?

It is vital to remember that many parents, teachers, and pupils hold the view that biological sex is real and important, and that safeguarding must be based on clear, factual criteria—not subjective identity claims. That view is not only protected under UK law but is now central to the current legal understanding of equality duties.

Please consider this a formal expression of serious concern. If I do not receive a substantive response addressing the questions above, I will consider submitting a formal complaint and may raise the matter with the Department for Education and relevant safeguarding authorities.

I would appreciate a written response within 10 working days.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[Your Relationship to the School, e.g., Parent of a Pupil in Year X]

Just jumping in pedantically to say that I'm not sure the dates are quite right in @TangenitalContrivences otherwise excellent draft - the SC ruling was April 2025 wasn't it? And the EHRC interim guidance May 2025? Or am I misreading?

I'd also be tempted to include a reference to the Cass Review about social transitioning not being a neutral act as that predates the SC ruling.

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It is so depressing that women's and girls' rights are being rolled back and no-one in authority seems to care.

Shit thats my fault sorry! too many dates In my head

As for Cass, something like:

"Further, the Cass Review’s final report, published in April 2024, makes clear that social transition (including name and pronoun changes) is not a neutral act. It has psychological and social consequences and should not be treated as a routine administrative step. Dr Hilary Cass recommends that schools adopt a cautious, case-by-case approach, prioritising the child’s long-term welfare and recognising the role of parents and clinicians in any such decision. The idea that children should be encouraged to socially transition at school, without full safeguarding and parental involvement, is now considered inconsistent with best practice and professional guidance."

Would put the wind up them.

@TangenitalContrivences is a great person to get advice from.

Do make sure, OP, that you get familiar with your own school’s complaint policy and follow it.