Jersey trans guidance for schools causes division

Guidance issued by Jersey's Education Department for pupils who are gender-questioning has been criticised by parents because they do not have to be consulted.

The guidance states that "being LGBTQ+ or exploring their gender identity does not in itself constitute a safeguarding concern, nor is it something the child's parents or carers must be informed of".

A petition has been set up calling on Education to scrap it, claiming it could negatively affect the mental health of very young children and was contrary to government pledges to put children first.

The department said the guidance was "to provide much-needed clarity for our teachers and school staff" on how to "best support" children.

"The Education Department needs to update their guidance," said Jean Lelliott, who set up the petition.

Members of the trans community said the guidance was about encouraging tolerance and raising awareness.

Ms Lelliott acknowledged that but added: "I don't think there is anything intolerant about Jersey.

"We're not a backwards society; we're very accepting of people and it's such a tiny, tiny percentage.

"But it is totally confusing the vast majority of our children who don't understand it."

Parents have also criticised the guidance.

Michael Shenkin said: "They're children. They're not old enough to make these sort of life-changing evaluations regarding medical intervention.

"It's not something that should be the default position for a pupil and it may not be that that is the root thing.

"If you are suggesting that if something is wrong, then it might be because you are trans, that might be the position that the child takes, instead of exploring whether there are other things in their life which might be causing their unhappiness.

"Their unhappiness may not be caused by the idea that they're born in the wrong body, and they shouldn't be teaching ideas like they're born in the wrong body."

But a Channel Islands charity that promotes equality said that, while children were encouraged to discuss their feelings at home, not all of them come from supportive families.

Kaye Nicholson, from Liberate, said: "We would encourage families to have these discussions in order that children and young people feel comfortable discussing this with their family members.

"Part of the guidance actually states that teachers are encouraged to talk to young people about whether they've had this discussion with their parents and with their guardians, and part of that is the holistic approach to ensuring that the young person has adequate support."

Another parent, who did not want to be identified to protect her children, said: "If you ask me why I'm worried about this as a parent, it's the fact that the Education Department is pumping guidance into Jersey schools, telling them to do things around this issue, and also not tell me. I think that's extraordinary.

"I think the job of the Education Department is to be current and up to date with this debate. "

The Education Department said: "The guidance document... is in place to provide much-needed clarity for our teachers and school staff, on how to best support the children that this applies to.

"It explains that support should be provided on a case-by-case basis in discussion with the young person, their family (unless safeguarding considerations prevent this) and professionals around them.

"The focus of this guidance is to provide practical advice. It is not intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive."

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to [email protected].