Radical LGBT charity encourages teachers not to tell parents their children are trans
Teachers are being told not to inform parents if their child is transgender in guidance written by a school signed up to a radical LGBT charity’s inclusion scheme.
A “coming out” guide for staff at Knox Academy in East Lothian informs staff that it is “good practice” not to inform parents about a child’s social transition from one gender to another without their permission.
Social transitioning is when someone begins to live as their preferred gender in public, for example, changing pronouns, wearing different clothing and going by a different name.
At another school in the county, North Berwick High, discussions were held over possible “problems” that changes to official records could cause as parents could discover their child had changed their name when reports were sent home.
In both cases it is understood that the guidance was penned by staff who were informed by a radical charity, LGBT Youth Scotland, which received almost £1 million per year in public money.
The charity also hosts “coming out” guides on its website, including letter templates telling children how to officially change their name at school, and advising them teachers must not let their parents know about a gender change unless they are “at risk of harm”.
More than half of Scottish schools signed up to charity’s scheme
The SNP Government faced calls to urgently review trans policies regarding children following the publication of the Cass Review, which urged caution over social transitioning and warned that it could lead to children going on to harmful medical pathways.
The Telegraph revealed on Thursday that as part of a controversial “charter scheme” run by LGBT Youth Scotland, schools including primaries were appointing children “LGBT champions” and being urged to question pupils about their sexual orientation and gender.
Schools who signed up to the charity’s scheme, for a fee normally of at least £850, were ranked on how well they catered for LGBTQ+ pupils and were given guides to follow to best achieve this.
It is backed by the Scottish Government and more than half of the country’s secondary schools, and at least 40 of its primary schools, are signed up.
Part of the documentation sent to the charity by Knox Academy East Lothian, and disclosed under Freedom of Information legislation, includes a staff guide for pupils “coming out”.
The policy had apparently been drawn up as part of its bid to win charter status from the charity, which tells schools to rewrite policies to ensure they are “inclusive”.
Under a section entitled “good practice”, it states: “A transgender young person may not have told their family about their gender identity.
“A young person may not have told their family about their sexuality. Inadvertent disclosure could cause needless stress for the young person or could put them at risk.
“Therefore, it is best to not disclose information to parents or carers without the young person’s permission.”
The guide also encourages staff to ask for a child’s name and pronouns, not to “deny their identity” or to “overly question their understanding of their gender identity” if they say they are trans.
‘Idea they can keep parents out of decision is wrong’
Meanwhile, a “champions” meeting at North Berwick High was held in May 2022, in which staff and pupils discussed the issue of parents being alerted to a name change as a result of alterations to the official records system, known as SEEMiS.
While the school said all name changes to date had been made with parental consent, it was warned that formal changes “could cause problems” if a child wanted to keep their gender identity and new name from their parents.
“R has advised that pupils can request this [a formal name change] but must be made aware that any official documents going home (ie reports) will have the name change on them,” the minute says.
Simon Calvert, deputy director of the Christian Institute, said the Cass Review had been clear that social transition had “medical implications” and should not take place without medical supervision.
“The idea that a teacher can just decide on the spot, the first time a kid speaks to them about gender confusion, to socially transition them by using whatever pronouns or name the child wants, is clearly wrong,” he said.
“The idea that they can try to keep their parents – and therefore their doctors – out of the decision is not just wrong, it is unprofessional. Any school following this approach may be putting itself in a legally vulnerable position.”
A spokesman for East Lothian Council, which is responsible for the schools, said the policy was based on Scottish Government guidelines.
He added: “This is underpinned by key legislation and established children’s rights respecting approaches including, but not limited to, the Equality Act 2010, Getting it Right for Every Child, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and data protection legislation and principles.
“This ensures learning environments which are safe, respectful and inclusive for all.”
LGBT Youth Scotland was contacted for comment.