East Lothian Council – school guidance

We have written to East Lothian Council following the publication of its Gender Statement – Supporting Transgender Children and Young People in Schools guidance. Unfortunately, this document incorporates much of the recently withdrawn Scottish Government’s school guidance that was found to be inconsistent with the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act.

For example, on overnight trips pupils are allowed to “share a room with the gender that most aligns to their identity” ie. a boy can choose to sleep in the girls’ dorm, and similarly, “If PE classes are organised by sex assigned at birth, a transgender learner should be allowed to take part within the group which matches their gender identity”.

We consider the guidance to be clearly unlawful and any school following its advice would be putting children in its care at risk and likely to face legal action.

If you are a parent in East Lothian please raise your concerns with your school and the council. Contact email addresses are Nicola McDowell, Head of Education, nmcdowell1@eastlothian.gov.uk and Laurence Rockey, Chief Executive, chiefexec@eastlothian.gov.uk.

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Letter as a PDF