School reports parents over gender stance

Teachers told social services after deciding to reaffirm child’s gender choice rather than follow clinical advice

A leading private school had parents investigated by social workers after they fought teachers’ attempts to “affirm” their daughter’s transgender identity. George Watson’s College in Edinburgh called in social services in 2020 after a dispute in which the parents, acting on advice from psychologists, asked for the school to adopt a “watchful waiting” approach to their child. However, the school insisted upon “respecting [the child’s] wishes to use masculine pronouns”.

A LEADING private school in Scotland had parents investigated by social workers after they fought teachers’ attempts to “affirm” their daughter’s transgender identity.

George Watson’s College in Edinburgh called in social services in December 2020 after a long-running dispute in which the parents, acting on advice from psychologists, asked for the school to adopt a “watchful waiting” approach to their child.

“Watchful waiting” is where a child’s view of their gender is closely observed but without social or medical intervention. However, the school insisted upon “respecting his [the child’s] wishes to use the masculine pronouns”, claiming they had the teenager’s “best interest and wellbeing at heart”.

The school announced it received a gold award from trans activist charity LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS), which requires schools to rewrite policies, in April 2019. Schools are then given a gold, bronze or silver rating for their LGBTQ+ friendliness as part of a charter scheme that is backed by the SNP government. The child’s mother, whom The Telegraph is not naming in order to protect the pupil’s identity, said the school would defer to the charity rather than listen to the parents, who were acting on clinical advice that affirming the teenager’s gender was not in her best interest.

“We were repeatedly lied to by the school,” the mother said. “I feel that our child was just seen as a little guinea pig by the school and LGBT Youth Scotland. The school policies, which LGBT Youth

Scotland help write, are set up to ensure parents are deliberately misled.

“We had received two expert opinions, including from a specialist in gender, not to challenge our child but that adults should basically turn a blind eye, and not affirm her. But these experts were repeatedly dismissed by teachers.”

She added: “Rather than engaging meaningfully with us, we were referred to social services by the school and investigated. Fortunately, they were sensible and it went no further, but the fact that this was deemed appropriate in the first place is outrageous.”

Sources at the school admitted social services were contacted but said this was for advice about how to “support the young person”.

Dr Hilary Cass, whose landmark review into child gender services in the English NHS was published last month, has warned about the possible dangers of social transitioning, meaning to informally change name and gender.

The leading paediatrician called for a cautious approach, including in schools, saying social transitioning was more likely to push children onto a potentially damaging medical pathway.

Social workers were called in by the school in December 2020, who interviewed the parents and the child before agreeing with the clinical advice and taking no further action. However, the mother says the school still persisted with the “affirming” approach. The school was still attempting to contact social workers the following August.

Jenny Gilruth, the SNP education secretary, said last week that she was looking at implications of the Cass Review into Scottish government’s guidance for schools, which LGBTYS helped write. In a letter from Ms Gilruth regarding the George Watson’s case, sent last November, she said ultimately a child’s wishes on whether parents were informed about gender transition “should be respected”. Information the mother obtained from the school after making a Subject Access Request shows her daughter’s “preferred name” was changed on school systems after she said she was non-binary. Meeting records show the school said in late 2019 it would “be respecting his [the child’s] wishes to use the masculine pronouns” despite the fact that “mum and dad absolutely do not agree with the ‘positive affirmation approach’ that school is endorsing”.

A spokesman for George Watson’s College said: “We have always worked collaboratively with parents and apologise to those involved in this case for any distress caused by what are difficult and challenging circumstances.”

A spokesman for LGBTYS said George Watson’s had been awarded a charter in 2018 and that it expired in 2022. He added: “When it comes to advising on supporting trans pupils in schools we always refer to Scottish government guidance.”

‘I feel that our child was just seen as a little guinea pig by the school’

‘Rather than engaging with us, we were referred to social services by the school’