Schools and safeguarding • Page 4
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Send our new guidance to a school you know
Schools are calling out for clear guidance on sex and gender to answer questions such as what should they do when they face demands to socially transition children or to keep the secrets of a child who identifies as trans.
25th April 2022
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Sex and gender identity: keep your pupils safe and comply with the law – guidance for schools in England
This revision of our May 2021 guidance, produced together with Transgender Trend, draws on the interim report of the Cass Review, recent legal cases on freedom of belief, the EHRC’s new guidance on single-sex services and a YouGov survey of teachers, as well as government guidance and legislation. Republished with...
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Girlguiding settles gender-critical case
Girlguiding UK has released a statement saying it has settled its legal case with Katie Alcock. Katie Alcock and fellow guide leader Helen Watts were expelled from Girlguiding after an investigation into their social-media activity when they raised safeguarding concerns about Girlguiding’s policy of admitting male children and adults...
19th April 2022
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Most secondary schools now have trans-identified pupils: Sex Matters’ new survey
Anyone who interacts with young people will surely have noticed that trans identities are becoming more common – and varied. To get a measure of scale of this social shift, Sex Matters commissioned YouGov to poll secondary-school teachers about their experience of trans-identifying pupils. The findings provide the first...
11th April 2022
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Separate and single-sex service providers: a guide on the Equality Act sex and gender reassignment exceptions
Advice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, released on 4th April 2022. Read our statement about it.
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Independent counsel agrees with our guidance for schools
Last year Sex Matters, together with Transgender Trend, produced guidance for schools. The Good Law Project recently published legal advice by Dan Squires QC. His conclusions support much of our guidance, although he disagrees with us on one important point – how simple and straightforward it should be to...
1st March 2022
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It’s not too late to talk to your MP!
Sex Matters supporters have been speaking to their MPs about the proposed legislation on conversion therapy. Their reports from face-to-face and telephone meetings highlight the need for a proper review of the proposals. Supporters who have managed to speak to their MPs tell us that some have been surprised...
2nd February 2022
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Banning conversion therapy: a response from the Bayswater Support Group
The UK’s largest support group run by and for parents of children, adolescents and young adults who identify as transgender responds to the government consultation.
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Clear rules and girls’ schools
Why the Girls' Day School Trust's single-sex policy is lawful and important.
11th January 2022
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Clear rules and girls’ schools
Why is the Girls’ Day School Trust’s new policy important and what are the implications for other charities and regulators in protecting human rights?
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Whose schools guidance is in line with the Equality Act?
Joint post with Transgender Trend (it’s long; make yourself a cup of tea). You can also download it as a pdf. Boys and Girls and the Equality Act In May 2021 Sex Matters and Transgender Trend published the first edition of our Schools Guidance: Boys and Girls and the...
18th December 2021
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Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges
The Department of Education’s advice for governing bodies, proprietors, headteachers, principals, senior leadership teams and designated safeguarding leads.
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Conversion therapy position paper
A new law seeks to remove medical gatekeeping by making doctors afraid of disagreeing with a patient’s self-declared gender identity. We ask the government instead to press Pause.
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Press pause on conversion therapy law
The Government is consulting on its proposal to introduce a new law banning “conversion therapy”. They are aiming to introduce a Bill to parliament in time to celebrate this as an achievement at their “Safe To Be Me: Global Equality Conference” in June 2022. They are therefore undertaking a...
14th November 2021
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Government launches conversion therapy consultation: Sex Matters’ response
A rushed six-week consultation has been launched, with the claim that this will stop under 18 year olds making irreversible decisions. But will the threat of criminal penalties be used to pressurise parents and therapists who don't take an affirmation approach to gender identity?
28th October 2021
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Pronouns at work
You often ask us what you should do when a workplace asks you to ‘state your pronouns’, in your email signature or during introductions in meetings. We explain the laws surrounding the issue and what to do if this new ritual makes you uncomfortable.
19th October 2021
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Summary of the Sex Matters guide to pronouns at work
A two-page summary of our guide to what you can and can’t be asked to do.
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The Sex Matters guide to: Pronouns at work
Our briefing for employers and employees thinking about workplace rules and policies – and what is and isn’t legal.
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Truth and reconciliation
How should the public sector leave the Stonewall Champions Scheme?
6th June 2021
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Leadership starts with the law – briefing for universities on the Reindorf Report
For universities, student unions and service providers reviewing their policies and considering issues of academic freedom.
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Time to #LeaveStonewall
This is the letter we have sent to the CEOs of the 850 organisations that are members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme. Re: Leaving the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme We are writing to call on you to withdraw from the scheme, both for the sake of your own...
29th May 2021
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Guidance for Schools
Sex Matters and Transgender Trend have developed new guidance for schools.
8th May 2021
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Boys and Girls and the Equality Act – guidance for schools (England and Wales)
This guidance has now been updated – see our new guidance published in April 2022.
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Boys and Girls and the Equality Act – guidance for schools (Scotland)
With Transgender Trend – advice on avoiding unlawful discrimination on issues around sex and gender reassignment. We will be updating the guidance for Scotland soon: until then you may want to refer to our new guidance for schools in England, published in April 2022.
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Toilets – a place where sex matters
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is undertaking a technical review on increasing accessibility and provision of toilets for men and women. We submitted a 60 page briefing . The submission is long, because the issue of who can use which toilets has become overly complicated and...
19th February 2021
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Gender Recognition Act reform – evidence submission
We answer the Women and Equalities Select Committee‘s questions and make six recommendations.
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Stonewall schools guidance: a critical review
Transgender Trend reviews all ten Stonewall schools guides from 2015 to 2020.
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Girls are skipping school to avoid sharing gender neutral toilets with boys after being left to feel unsafe and ashamed
Sanchez Manning, Social Affairs Correspondent for the Mail On Sunday.
Menstruating girls are staying home for fear of being made to feel 'period shame'. Some girls are risking infections by refusing to urinate all day or not drinking. Doctors and politicians called on schools to halt the move towards unisex toilets.
