Girls schools could be forced to admit trans boys, leaked plan under review by UK equality watchdog shows
- Revealed in Equality and Human Rights Commission school guidance draft
- Proposes Trans children should be able to attend single sex school of any gender
- Guidelines were first proposed in March 2018 but were not published
Single sex schools may admit transgender pupils to the boys or girls school of their choosing, even if doesn’t align with their current gender, say proposals by the equalities watchdog.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) draft guidance on such matters details how admission of trans students to single sex schools would need to be considered on an individual basis, reports The Telegraph.
Guidelines were first proposed in March 2018 when schools were expected to be given direction on how to sensitively address trans students with pronouns, he, she and they – it was also expected to detail how uniforms and changing rooms should be organised for trans students.
School Girls Enter And Leave Church (stock)
After seeking various views from teachers, experts, trans and women’s groups the EHRC failed to publish the guidance.
Today its controversial contents can be revealed after the document entitled Trans pupils: guidance for schools in Scotland on the Equality Act 2010 – Confidential DRAFT was accessed by The Telegraph.
It reads: ‘A refusal to admit a trans pupil to a single-sex school which is the same as the trans pupil’s sex recorded at birth would be direct sex discrimination. Admitting such a pupil will not affect the school’s single-sex status.
Calling the refusal to allow a student to attend a singles sex school after they had made a choice to transition to a different gender would be ‘direct gender reassignment discrimination’.
Additionally the document also stated that transgender students should not be refused admission to a single sex school due to their birth gender as this would ‘particularly disadvantage trans pupils’ and would be ‘discriminatory’ unless’ achieving a legitimate aim’, reports The Telegraph.
A girl raises her hand in class (stock)
Meaning that transgender children can freely apply to study at both boys and girls schools depending on where they feel comfortable.
The document also details that unisex, gender-neutral facilities such as toilets, showers and changing rooms should be installed in schools with trans boys and girls free to use single-sex facilities ‘aligning with their gender identity’.
Raising questions of women’s safety among feminists and woman’s groups campaigners claim that the practice could put women at risk in otherwise ‘safe spaces’.
Kiri Tunks, co-founder of Woman’s Place UK, a women’s campaign group, told The Telegraph: ‘This guidance shows what a mess we create when we conflate sex and gender. The EHRC seems very confused about the difference and this advice will just muddy the waters further.’
Adding: ‘We are losing confidence in the EHRC’s ability to issue robust, practical advice on this question.’
Mermaids, a trans children’s charity, said that they hadn’t played a part in the drafting of the document but that it was every transgender child’s right to live freely with support.
An EHRC spokeswoman told The Telegraph: ‘This document is a draft. We have been speaking to teachers and education experts, women’s groups and trans groups for their views. This will be an important document for schools to help them support all children and meet their legal duties under the equality act.’
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