Schools should better support transgender pupils, report warns

Schools need to better support transgender pupils who face a high rate of bullying, a new report has warned.

The report, published by the Women and Equalities Committee, found that high rates of bullying among transgender pupils is leading to poor attendance and an inability to learn effectively.

It suggests that many schools lack the proper guidance to best address the issue and advises that all schools should ensure staff receive training on how to best support gender-variant students, defined as those whose behaviours and interests do not match masculine and feminine gender norms.

In addition to better support for transgender students, the report also suggests that trans and gender issues should be taught as part of PHSE curriculum.

The report cites previous research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission which found that 91 per cent of trans boys and 66 per cent of trans girls experienced harassment or bullying at school. Maria Miller, a Conservative MP and chair of the committee, said that while Britain ‘leads the world in recognising lesbian, gay and bisexual rights’ it is still ‘failing trans people in so many ways’.

Juno Roche, a former teacher and trans activist, described the report as ‘long overdue’ and expressed her hopes that it would lead to some kind of affirmative action.

She said: "There has been no guidance from central government. Head teachers desperately want to do the right thing, but they need to see it in black and white."