High Court to hear teen’s challenge over Oxfordshire trans policy

A 13-year-old girl has been granted permission by the High Court to take landmark legal action against Oxfordshire County Council over its controversial guidance concerning transgender pupils.

The ‘Trans Inclusion Toolkit for Schools 2019’, was implemented by the Council last year.

It says boys who claim to be girls should be allowed to share female toilets, changing rooms and overnight accommodation on school trips.

Safety

When she launched the case in February, the teenager known as Miss A said: “Under these guidelines I have no right to privacy from the opposite sex in changing rooms, loos or on residential trips”.

“The guidance makes me feel that my desire for privacy, dignity, safety, and respect is wrong.”

The girl’s mother said this week that she was “astounded” that her daughter’s concerns had not been taken seriously.

The guidance makes me feel that my desire for privacy, dignity, safety, and respect is wrong.

“The more my daughter reads that gender identity is more important than her status as a young woman, the more frustrated she becomes, because she knows that she is entitled to female-only spaces, to compete in female-only competitions and to sleep in female-only dorms”, she added.

Concerns

The case is expected to be heard in the autumn and is supported by Safe Schools Alliance UK.

Tanya Carter, spokeswoman for the group, said: “We believe that the guidance is unlawful and undermines both safeguarding and the Equality Act 2010.”

The Christian Institute’s Education Officer John Denning agreed saying: “Miss A is not alone. At just 13, she is bravely speaking out for many girls all over the UK who feel they can’t use gender neutral toilets at school.

No child should be put in this position

“They fear being labelled ‘intolerant’ if they express concerns about sharing sleeping accommodation with biological boys.

Rights

“No child should be put in this position: schools and local authorities must put safeguarding first and properly recognise the rights of all children.

“They must ensure parents are properly informed so they can guard their children’s rights.”