Schools have been called on to support growing numbers of transgender pupils in recent years. The Tavistock and Portman NHS trust gender identity development service in London, the only centre for children and adolescents in England, has seen referral increases of about 50% a year since 2010-11. The Tavistock had a 100% increase in 2015-16 referrals.
So how are schools making sure young people are supported? It is unlawful for school to treat pupils less favourably because of gender reassignment, according to the 2010 Equality Act. While some schools are committed to doing this others appear less aware of the law. This has led to legal action in one case. It was recently reported that one transgender teenager is suing his former school for discrimination.
Share your experiences
We want to hear from parents and teachers about transgender policies in schools. Is your school supportive? Does it have guidelines and a policy in place? Have you found them helpful? How do they tackle transphobia? Do they follow the law? Share your experiences below the line.
- Please share your stories with us but note you have to be over 16 to submit a response. The form is encrypted and only the Guardian can see your responses. We feature some of your responses in our reporting. You can submit anonymously.
