How PC rules may spell the end of head boy and girl
THE titles of head boy and head girl are in danger of being axed in schools to comply with gender equality laws.
Aberdeen City Council officials have asked schools to review their processes for selecting ‘genderspecific’ roles such as head boy and head girl.
The move was described as ‘complete and utter madness’ yesterday by one councillor – as it emerged some schools had taken steps to abolish the titles.
The roles have been seen as pinnacles of achievement at secondary schools for generations. But Aberdeen education officials fear they may breach equality laws by taking too little account of gender-identity issues and because both positions are available only to one gender.
Under the Equalities Act, schools have to ensure unlawful discrimination and harassment are eliminated, while gender equality is promoted.
Under proposals Aberdeen schools have been asked to consider, they would still promote senior pupils but they would no longer be classed as ‘boy’ or ‘girl’.
Headteachers from the city’s secondary schools have been asked to examine the gender-specific roles before the start of the 2017-18 academic year and provide feedback.
But finance convener and Labour councillor Willie Young said: ‘This is a load of rubbish. We have had a head boy and a head girl for years. ‘This is complete and utter madness. In life, problems mean boys like to speak to boys and girls like to speak to girls. This is why there should always be a head boy and a head girl.’
But changes have already been intro- duced at Harlaw Academy, near the city centre. Following discussions with pupils, teachers decided to move away from gender-based roles and replace them with a merit-based senior prefect team. That currently consists of two girls and one boy.
The decision came after pupils asked why there had to be a top prefect of each gender.
Alex Nicoll, the SNP’s education spokesman on the council, said he was sympathetic to the idea of doing away with head girl and head boy titles.
He added: ‘Many don’t fit into such a simplistic gender identity at that age. I think head pupil is a totally appropriate title and I don’t think it’s being silly or overly politically correct.
‘We have boys and girls who are going through a consideration of themselves and we have to be alert to that.’
Meanwhile, Mr Young pledged changes would not be implemented at other schools unless they were approved by councillors. He said: ‘We have had no consultation with our director of education.
‘The head boy and girl will continue until such time as something is put in front of the council.
‘At that time, it will be for members to determine whether they want to retain the title of head boy and head girl.
‘I have emailed the director of education and told her I expect a report to be coming to committee. It angers me that no consultation has been made with the administration or members.’
Aberdeen City Council confirmed the review was being carried out.
A Scottish Government spokesman said he was not aware of any other local authorities considering axing the titles.
Among Scotland’s best known former head pupils are Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who was head girl at Harris Academy in Dundee, and actor Gerard Butler, who was head boy of St Mirin’s and St Margaret’s High School in Paisley.