Controversial sex survey may change for trans pupils
EXCLUSIVE
MINISTERS are considering changing the controversial pupils’ sex survey which asks youngsters if they have had anal sex to cater for transgender children, it can be revealed.
The details have emerged while the Scottish Government won a fight with the Fair Play For Women group which insisted it was unlawful that adults were being allowed to choose their gender in this year’s census.
Fair Play for Women is now appealing the results of the judicial review into whether ministers should allow participants to self-identify as male or female.
It has emerged that Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has said inclusion changes over the survey aimed at children as young as eight were under consideration.
She also dismissed privacy concerns over the survey saying the Scottish Government only said it was “confidential” and not “anonymous”.
It comes after one parents’ group told ministers the survey had a “very heteronormative slant”, using the terms “girlfriend” and “boyfriend” which are “outdated and inappropriate”.
Heteronormativity is the concept that heterosexuality is the preferred or normal mode of sexual orientation.
Ms Somerville said in a letter to one parents’ group: “At this time, there has not been agreement about the way in which transgender people will be reflected within school census data. This is a matter of ongoing consideration, and may change in future. However, at this time, the census reflects the current position in relation to the collection of information about young people’s gender identity.”
She insisted the survey information was needed for “improved, consistent and robust data on children and young people’s health and wellbeing”.
“This will inform local children’s services planning and national policy, in order that we collectively are able to support joint approaches to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland, particularly in light of the concerns of Covid-19 but also in the face of very particular concerns about children and young people’s wellbeing.
“For example, in relation to genderbased violence in schools. I am conscious that we are consistently criticised that there is insufficient focus on health and wellbeing within schools and learning, and that we are asked to focus more concretely on those matters.”
Parents’ group tells ministers that questions had ‘very heteronormative slant’ – calling terms girlfriend and boyfriend ‘inappropriate’
Illegal sex acts
PARENTS had raised questions about the content of the Government’s Health and Wellbeing Census, which asks pupils as young as 14 intimate questions on their sexual activity – effectively asking them to confess about illegal acts.
One question, aimed at pupils in S4 and S6, says: “People have varying degrees of sexual experience. How much, if any, sexual experience have you had?”
Multiple choice answers include “oral sex” and “vaginal or anal sex”.
It also asks how many people they have had sexual intercourse with in the past 12 months.
The census, the full details of which are not available to parents, is to be given to children in P5, 6 and 7 but the younger groups’ questions are targeted on matters such as physical activity, mental health, sleep patterns, social media, body image, and bullying. It also quizzes them on how easy it is to talk to family members about things that bother them, and whether their parents really care about their education.
Privacy regulators are investigating complaints that the census is breaching data protection rules and human rights legislation.
The Information Commissioner’s Office, which is responsible for upholding data privacy, is looking into concerns that the controversial census billed as anonymous by Nicola Sturgeon and for “statistical and research purposes only” is not strictly confidential.
Privacy documents over the scheme show analysts overseeing the survey within local authorities can act on behalf of children if any answers raise concerns. It does not specify what type.
Ministers have dismissed calls by the Children and Young People’s
Commissioner, Bruce Adamson, to pause the survey to ensure a “rights compliant process” following concerns over privacy and whether informed consent is available.
Revelations over the changes to the children’s survey to support transgender issues have amazed some parents who believe it should play no part in the health and wellbeing census for children.
Parents’ consent
CONTROVERSIAL LGBT inclusivity guidelines for schools produced last year state that children can be allowed to change their name informally within school without their parents’ consent.
The 70-page document calls on teachers not to question pupils if they say that they want to transition to live as a boy or a girl, and to instead ask them for their new name and pronouns.
The controversial guidance claimed that it is possible to “come out” as transgender “at any age” and that the views of young people should be respected if they do not want their parents to be informed.
It says that a transgender young person may not have told their family about their gender identity and that inadvertent disclosure could cause “needless stress for the young person or could put them at risk and breach legal requirements”.
It says: “Therefore, it is best to not share information with parents or carers without considering and respecting the young person’s views and rights.”
Scotland’s schools were also told that trans pupils should be able to use whatever lavatory or changing room they choose, to develop “gender neutral” uniform options, and to include transgender characters and role models in reading material and lessons.
LGBT advocacy groups such as Stonewall, which helped formulate the advice, welcomed the move and claimed the rules would help all children to “thrive”.
The guidance also includes a recommended list of films and books for primary schools, designed to promote trans inclusivity, and calls for posters which “challenge gender stereotypes” to be put up in classrooms.
One book included tells a story about a blue crayon which suffers an identity crisis as it was mistakenly labelled as red.
The Education Secretary has also defended the Scottish Government’s
We are seeking to understand, in a much deeper way than we are currently able, young people’s lived experiences in order to target support more effectively
position after parents’ organisation Connect called for the SNP Government to withdraw the survey – due to be completed this school year – saying it was “not fit for purpose”.
Ms Somerville, pictured above, said it was necessary to seek information from children and young people about their lived experiences, including those “which are uncomfortable”, in order to ensure the services they receive, including those from education, health and within their communities, reflect what life is like for them.
‘Important’
IN response to Connect, she said: “Those involved in the development of the census are specialists in research and analysis with significant experience of developing impact assessments for the sharing of data, and considering the ethics of the proposed survey.
“You have also asked why it is important that policymakers understand different sexual experiences including oral sex. All of the information requested about sexual experiences is intended to inform policy, but also to inform advice and support services for young people.
“We are seeking to understand, in a much deeper way than we are currently able, young people’s lived experiences in order to target support more effectively.”