Boarding schools allowing gender-confused boys to sleep in girls’ dorms

Boarding schools are permitting boys who claim to be female to share girls’ dormitories, it has been reported.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Taunton School in Somerset is reviewing a current policy stating that “as far as possible, transgender pupils and students should be able to sleep in dorms appropriate to their gender identity”.

At Hampshire’s Bedales School, a 2021 document says pupils can access accommodation, changing rooms and toilets “according to the gender with which they identify”. Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex is also reviewing its practice to give “careful consideration” to such requests.

‘Horrified’

Dr Caroline Johnson, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, said that one of her constituents had raised concern about a gender-confused boy sharing a boarding house with female pupils.

Adolescent boys should not have access to spaces where girls undress or sleep

She commented: “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.”

Miriam Cates MP added that parents would “probably be horrified at some of the gender ideology in these schools”.

A source close to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan stated: “Ministers have been clear that single-sex spaces must be protected and this has been reflected in the Government’s draft guidance on gender-questioning pupils, which is currently out for consultation.”

Violence

Writing in The Telegraph, Julie Bindel warned that failing to protect single-sex spaces wrecks safeguarding.

She said: “Recent figures show that over half of all reports of child sexual assault are committed by other children – an increase of a third since 2013. The majority of perpetrators in these cases are boys, and their victims, girls.

“There are many reasons believed to be behind the increase, including easier access to violent pornography – but I wonder if the move away from single-sex spaces is also a factor? Either way, schools must be a safe haven for girls, as well as boys.”

‘Stonewall’

Earlier this month, trans activists came under fire for reportedly pushing teachers to follow the Stonewall “playbook”, instead of Government guidance on how schools should help gender-questioning children.

During an event co-hosted by the Trans & Non-Binary Education Network and Schools Out groups, teachers were told there would be “a lot of reasons not to follow” the Department for Education’s guidance even after it is finalised following public consultation.

The draft guidelines explain: if a child wants to socially transition, schools should give “great weight” to parents’ views; schools must not allow pupils who say they are trans to use toilets and changing rooms of the opposite sex; teachers should use sex-based pronouns; and teachers and pupils should not be compelled to use a gender-confused child’s preferred pronouns.