Creating an inclusive transgender policy.
Comprehensive guide drawing on models and examples from secondary schools
Everyone deserves to be treated equitably and inclusively. No one deserves to be subjected to discrimination. Tackling it is vital. And it’s everyone’s responsibility. Regardless of the stage of your career.
But there are some groups, whose needs are not met by all schools all of the time. Transgender and Non-Binary students are two such groups.
But the good news is - as always - there are schools we can learn from about how they do it.
This week’s highlight from the We Are In Beta community is another piece of research from one of our brilliant researchers - Sam Fifield.
I hope you find it useful.
We - schools - Are In Beta - always learning (when we find what remarkable schools are doing well and share it widely to support every student).
🏳️⚧️ Creating an inclusive transgender policy: a comprehensive guide drawing on models and examples from secondary schools.
Transgender and Non-Binary inclusions in the UK have become a dominant topic within wider discussions of Equality and Diversity. Within these discussions, schools have become a frontier for trans rights. This raises the question, what can schools do to champion the rights of all pupils, including their trans and non-binary pupils?
Codifying your approach into policy is one approach. But:
What does an transgender policy look like?
What sections should it have?
How do you know if it will make a difference?
To help answer these questions, Sam spent a week scouring the websites of 296 secondary schools, downloading policies and analysing how they were written.
Here’s what he found 👇
Needless to say, not everything you read here will suit your context. Borrow what will, Leave what won’t.
Want us to research policies for you?
Reply to this email to tell us what policy you’re writing and we’ll do a lot the leg work for you.
📝 How schools structure transgender policies - what Sam explores:
how he approached the problem
school selection criteria
40 observations he made about schools' transgender policies
how to access 15 policy examples
🔎 5 transgender policy observations
The full article shares 40 policy observations from the 15 policies looked at.
Here are five that might get you thinking about what your school does:
📋 Dedicated policies: 16/296 schools looked at had an dedicated transgender policy.
⚖️ Legislation: 4/15 schools referenced Sex Discrimination Regulations 1999.
🚾 Facilities: 8/15 policies referred to the availability of unisex toilets to trans pupils.
🥍 PE: 5/15 policies highlighted that, regardless of circumstance, pupils in PE will vary in their ability and it is the role of the teacher to differentiate at all times to ensure safety.
🏷️ Name change: 15/15 policies supported name changes.
To find out how many discussed: other key pieces of legislation, how they support names changes and what alternate toilet facilities they provide…
On a personal note
This weekend I’m at a wedding. The groom - my friend Jack - is the son of the former head of my old school. It’s made my feel very grateful for a number of reasons.
For the education I was given.
For being included in their special day.
For my mum looking after our daughter.
It’s made me reflect on the conversations we have internally at We Are In Beta.
Conversations about how we foster the most supportive and collaborative community culture possible.
Part of that comes down to recognising and thanking members who go above and beyond to help others.
So on that note, I want to thank the following for their help offering resources to the school I’ve been helping which was recent affected by DfE closures:
Ann Donaghy - Noel Baker Academy
Joe Ambrose - Greenshaw Learning Trust
Tamsin Grainger - Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust
Pav Aujla - Creative Education Trust
Kim Constable - Wymondham College
Hina Robinson - Southend High School for Girls
Helen Scott - Ark Acton
Helen Hamilton - Uniter Learning Trust
Sue Plant and Tim Bithell - John Taylor Free School
Lucy Williams - Harris Invictus
Andre Stanger - John Mason School
Fiona Older Kingsthorpe College
Sadie Batstone - Brookington College
Sean Costello - Eton College
Kaajal Chohan - Rushey Mead Academy
Chris Harris - Spalding Grammar
Ed Chambers UCL Academy
Gavin Taylor
Sue Farimond - Little Lever School Bolton
Tom Watson - Les Quennevais School
Trevor Jones - Thomas Clarkson Academy
Kaeren Coverdale - Ribston Hall
Georgia Wardlaw - Wheatley Park School
Susan Hutcheson - Chiswick School
Ben Cousins - Manor School
Will Lau - The Children’s Hospital School
Stuart Lock - Advantage Schools
Apologies if I’ve missed anyone.
Thank you all for offering your help. It is very much appreciated.
Thanks for reading.
@NiallAlcock and the We Are In Beta team.
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