Vic Tanner Davy, from Liberate, said the guidance meant that advice was ‘consistent across Jersey’s education system’ and means students ‘don’t suffer any detriment simply because they have come out as trans’.
As reported, the nine-page document draws on policies used in other jurisdictions and professional good practice and suggests that all schools should try to avoid segregation in physical exercise lessons, as well as making all toilets unisex and allowing students to be called a name of their choice.
The document states that trans or transgender (without an *) are accepted terms to describe a person whose biological sex and the gender they were assigned at birth are not in alignment with their sense of gender or gender identity. The term trans* is an umbrella term that encompasses transgender people and a range of gender identities that are other than man or woman. Mr Tanner Davy said: ‘We are very pleased to see that the document has been released, as we know that it is something schools have been asking for. Crucially, having one document means that advice is now consistent across Jersey’s education system.
‘Being transgender is not something that is well or widely understood because it affects such a small proportion of the population. We deal with the emails from parents of trans youngsters when schools get this wrong and fail to support their trans students appropriately. The fallout can be devastating to the young person and, within the space of a term, their grades can plummet, they can become socially withdrawn, stressed, anxious or depressed. Schools that get it right can ensure that the student doesn’t suffer any detriment simply because they have come out as trans.’
The Education Department said that in the past two years a small number of secondary school students had identified as transgender.
David Bras, who is the Youth Service’s lead for LGBTQ Youth Jersey, added: ‘The increase in visibility of the LGBTQ community in Jersey has meant that more young people have felt able to speak openly about their real identity rather than pretending to be someone they aren’t. It has also meant young people can voice what needs to happen in order for them to feel included within their school environment.
‘The existence of guidelines that help schools to support trans* and non-binary youth is a very significant step towards making Jersey schools a safe space for young people to grow, explore their identity and feel part of the educational environment. If they feel accepted they are more likely to achieve academically.
‘Ideally, all members of the school community should be made aware of the guidelines and offered training in order to understand it fully.’
