City Council shares updated Trans Inclusion Toolkit with schools

Last month, Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) announced it has shared an updated version of its Trans Inclusion Toolkit with all local schools.

New content reflects feedback from a wide range of groups including parents, carers, and year 10 pupils who took part in a consultation exercise earlier in the year.

The toolkit is one of several guides produced by BHCC around safeguarding, equality and anti-bullying policies that support the whole school community. Advice is for trans inclusion work to be applied within an equalities framework that prevents gender stereotyping and sexism.

The kit was originally produced in 2013 to support children and young people whose gender identity did not align with their gender registered at birth.

Hannah Clare, chair of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee, said: “This is an important piece of work to ensure all pupils in our city’s schools feel safe and supported.

“Supporting trans children is just one vital part of continued efforts to tackle any form of discrimination.

“We want all pupils to feel comfortable in their own skin so they can make the most of all that education offers and flourish into being the very best version of themselves.

“Many of our schools are already working to ensure that their environment and curriculum celebrates all children and their families. This toolkit provides guidance on how to ensure trans members of the community feel equally welcome, represented, and safe in our city”.

Research by LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation Just Like Us found LGBTQ+ school pupils are twice as likely to experience bullying than their straight, cisgender peers.

The study, conducted independently by Cibyl on behalf of Just Like Us, interviewed 2,934 pupils aged 11-18 (1,140 of whom identified as LGBTQ+) and 513 educators across the UK. It reports that schools with an inclusive culture also see a reduction in pupils’ suicidal thoughts and feelings, and have a positive impact on all pupils’ mental health, regardless of whether they are LGBTQ+ or not.

Cllr Clare adds: “We’re proud to have trans guidance as part of our equalities practice. Sending positive messages of LGBTQ+ acceptance goes together with positive outcomes for all pupils.

“This is an important, child-centred piece of work and much care has been taken in its development.”

The toolkit has now been in the city’s schools for more than eight years. It offers practical advice about how to help vulnerable young people questioning their identity or who’ve identified as trans.

Prepared in consultation with key partner Allsorts Youth Project and local schools, the guidance covers topics such as gender stereotyping, language, clothing, name changes, safeguarding, confidentiality, toilet provision, special educational needs, pronoun use and changing facilities for sports.

A joint Notice of Motion about trans inclusion was agreed by Brighton & Hove’s Green, Labour and Conservative groups at a full council meeting in January 2021.

For more about Brighton & Hove’s Trans Inclusion Toolkit for Schools, visit: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/families-children-and-learning/informationabout-our-trans-inclusion-schools-toolkit