Ramsgrange transgender student’s case featured on RTE

PRIME TIME featured a segment on a Ramsgrange Community School student who is seeking to change gender, while highlighting the exponential growth in the number of young people seeking to change gender, and the implications of the proposed new law allowing them to do so without their parents’ consent.

Principal Rachel O’Connor appeared on the show, along with a parent of a student in the school.

Prime Time had contacted the school as they had heard that the school is supporting a child going through a gender transition. When asked about the topical issue, Ms O’Connor said: ‘It doesn’t matter what the issue is, a school’s approach should always be child-centred.’

She said teenagers face incredibly difficult challenges and schools are best placed to support them.

‘Ignoring or avoiding this issues can have serious implications for teenagers, mentally, socially and of course academically.’

Ms O’Connor said that although resources provided to schools are far from adequate, it is vitally important that a child-centred approach is adopted by the whole school community.

‘In terms of a transgender student, the school played and continues to play a supportive role, to the child, other students, parents and, of course, staff. Guest speakers were invited in, gender neutral bathrooms were provided, students were informed, parents were advised. It was a proactive, supportive role that has helped the whole school community.’

She said it is very frustrating when schools do their very best to support students but there is very little support locally.

‘CAMHS in Wexford only has a visiting child psychiatrist at the moment and waiting to access these services can take years. Our school and schools across Wexford will continue to support our students but very often we are just a “stop gap” intervention for a child in need a far greater support.’