Boarding schools let trans pupils pick dorms
BOARDING schools are allowing trans pupils to stay in dorms of their preferred gender, according to published policies seen by The Telegraph.
Co-educational schools, including Taunton School in Somerset and Bedales in Hampshire, have told pupils that transgender pupils could be allowed to stay in accommodation according to their chosen gender.
The schools’ policies clash with the Government’s first ever guidance for trans pupils, which states that pupils must sleep in dorms segregated by their biological sex. Gillian Keegan, the Education
Secretary, who published the draft guidance last month, is understood to be concerned by the policies.
A source close to her said: “Ministers have been clear that single-sex spaces must be protected and this has been reflected in the Government’s draft guidance on gender-questioning pupils, which is currently out for consultation.”
At Taunton School, which charges boarders £13,870 a term, an equality, diversity and inclusion policy adopted for the current academic year stated that “as far as possible, transgender pupils and students should be able to sleep in dorms appropriate to their gender identity”. It is understood that the policy is under review. At Bedales, the £14,185-a-term Hampshire school that counts the actor Daniel Day-lewis and singer Lily Allen as alumni, boarders are accommodated in houses “according to the gender with which they identify”, states a policy which is published on the school’s website.
At Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex, a 2020 policy on pupil diversity and inclusion stated that the school “will give careful consideration to a pupil’s request” to “be housed in accommodation that is different to their biological gender”. However, a spokeswoman for the school said current pupils were not allowed to sleep in dormitories of the
opposite sex. She said: “Christ’s Hospital is respectful of students who may be questioning their gender and balance this with our duty of care and safeguarding responsibilities.
“No student who is questioning their gender is allowed to share sleeping or changing facilities with others of the opposite biological sex to them.
“While, like all schools, we will be reviewing our policies following the recent publication of the Government’s draft guidance, nothing we do currently is outside that guidance.”
Taunton and Bedales declined to comment.
Dr Caroline Johnson, Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, said she had received a complaint from one of her Lincolnshire constituents about a trans girl in a boarding house with female pupils.
She said: “Adolescent boys should not have access to spaces where girls undress or sleep, and vice versa. Most parents and teenagers would be in agreement with that.”
Schools have struggled to respond to rising numbers of children confused about gender. The Government’s draft guidance states “no child should be allowed to share a room with a child of the opposite sex”. It also states that in secondary schools, teachers can refuse pupil requests to change pronouns.