The largest education union in the UK has cautioned that schools in England must actively participate in the creation of new transgender guidelines, which should complement their current safeguarding responsibilities.
The NEU stated that despite the upcoming release of the government’s initial version of the highly anticipated guidelines, numerous LGBTQ+ youth continue to have negative experiences in school.
According to a spokesperson from the National Education Union (NEU), the guidance that was promised by education secretary Gillian Keegan has been talked about for months, but has still not been released. The government has announced that when it is finally published, it will not be a legally binding document, will be in its initial stage, and will be open for feedback for a period of nine weeks.
“We hope the Department for Education [DfE], school leaders and unions can all work together constructively so that all LGBT+ young people have a good experience at school. Schools need to be involved properly in developing guidance that is clear and helpful and can work successfully along their safeguarding duties.”
A teacher, who preferred not to be named, informed the Guardian that the ongoing discussion about the guidelines and the constant media coverage of its potential contents has resulted in a rise in transphobic bullying at their school.
Based on recent reports, the updated guidelines state that teachers will not be required to disclose the gender identity of students who approach them with inquiries. However, schools are still expected to notify parents if their child expresses a desire to transition.
The educator, who is employed at a high school in northern England and has a child who is transgender, expressed hesitation about disclosing a student’s preferred name and pronouns to their parents if the student requested to be addressed differently at school.
“We do not have the authority to disclose information about students to their parents. Our main priority is to protect the well-being of the child.”
The CEO of the Saffron Academy Trust, Caroline Derbyshire, expressed that school leaders are seeking clear and simple guidance to navigate situations where the opinions of students and their parents may clash.
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Derbyshire stated that they make an effort to act in a reasonable manner, but each circumstance is unique and requires careful consideration. Managing this area is challenging, as there will always be someone who disagrees with the decisions made. It seems that no matter what actions are taken, there will always be criticism.
Having guidance can provide reassurance in challenging situations for a school leader, as they can confidently state that they are following the guidance. This can be crucial in navigating through difficulties.
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Initially, Rishi Sunak promised to release the guidance by the end of the summer term. However, he was unable to meet this deadline due to disagreements within his team, including concerns about its compatibility with equality laws.
The Bayswater organization serves as a support system for parents of adolescents and young individuals who identify as transgender, with a membership of 650 people throughout the United Kingdom. According to a spokesperson, there is a need for schools to have clear guidelines in place, as it is unfair to place the responsibility of making impactful decisions on teachers.
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Adults, who were supposed to protect them, have failed children with complex mental health issues and trauma by only considering gender as a “civil rights” problem.
“A trans identity is often associated with medicalization and a higher likelihood of having comorbidities, in contrast to sexual orientation. Ignoring a student’s rejection of their assigned gender without attempting to understand the underlying reasons is a failure in safeguarding that should concern everyone, regardless of political beliefs.”
A representative from the Department for Education stated: “The forthcoming guidelines will aid in protecting students and, importantly, guarantee that parents are involved in decisions regarding their child. The Cass Review has emphasized that even minor social transitions can have significant impacts on children. The guidance will be released at an appropriate time.”
Source: theguardian.com
