Website Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we’ll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website.
See our cookie policy for more information.

Practice Areas

More Information

thepartners@wrigleys.co.uk

Leeds: 0113 244 6100

Sheffield: 0114 267 5588

FOLLOW WRIGLEYS:

Send us an enquiry
Close

Is your school uniform policy consistent with Gender Diversity?

07 July 2016

We look at the movement in schools towards non gender specific policies and procedures.

At a recent meeting of the Girls' Schools Association (GSA) Head teachers received advice from Gendered Intelligence, a not for profit organisation specialising in support to young transgender people and with a mission to increase the understanding of gender diversity. 

The Head teachers were told that phrases used in school like "young ladies" and "young women" should be replaced with gender neutral words like "pupils" "people" or "students". 

Some single sex schools have already followed the advice on removing potentially discriminatory language and they have reviewed policies and procedures to create an environment which does not make lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender (LGBT) young people feel out of place or self conscious.

Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, has spoken out against school bullies stopping LGBT pupils from reaching their potential and alleges 1 in 3 LGBT students change their education plans because of homophobic bullying at school. She was speaking on this subject at Brighton College, where the school has recently introduced a non-gender specific school uniform policy.  In fact a number of schools including primaries have moved to a uniform policy and dress code which has dropped reference to girls and boys, or in the case of at least one primary school, states pupils can dress in the uniform in which they feel most comfortable.  

A representative from Gendered Intelligence confirms about 1% of the population are transgender and some children start to feel they are the wrong sex from the age of 4 onwards. The government supported drive encourages schools to be sensitive to "trans" children who are questioning their identity.

These moves have promoted Christian organisations to raise concerns that young children may be confused which may lead them to question their gender at a time when they are very impressionable. This situation was recently highlighted in an article about the actor and writer Rupert Everett who was quoted saying "I really wanted to be a girl. Thank God the world of now wasn't then ….I'd be on hormones and I'd be a woman".  However the champions of gender neutral policies throughout school life are keen to point out that the policies are not about boys wearing skirts in school but providing space and discretion for transgender children in order that they are not highlighted as different in the school environment. 

What is the position in law?

Schools have a legal duty to comply with the Equality Act 2010 in the provision of education to young people.  This includes avoiding indirect discrimination of LGBT children which may arise where a school policy or procedure such as the school uniform policy applied to all children equally places a group of children or one individual child at a disadvantage.

 

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article further or if you have any questions relating to disability or tribunal claims, please contact Sue King on 0113 244 6100.

You can keep up to date by following Wrigleys Education team on Twitter here or sign up for details of Wrigleys events here

The information in this article is necessarily of a general nature. Specific advice should be sought for specific situations. If you have any queries or need any legal advice please feel free to contact Wrigleys Solicitors

 

July 2016

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
Sue King View Biography

Sue King

Partner
Leeds

02 Dec 2024

How can community-led organisations get involved in the ownership of land for nature recovery?

We recently hosted an online event to look at this question. Here’s a summary of the event and some of the key takeaways….

28 Nov 2024

Work experience and employing children - what employers and schools need to know

A look at the overlapping laws, regulations and obligations around employing young people and children.

27 Nov 2024

What are the requirements for a smaller-scale redundancy consultation?

Court of Appeal clarifies smaller-scale redundancy consultation requirements.