Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Transphobic Bullying

Monday 27 February 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister for Women and Equalities is working to develop guidance for schools to support transgender pupils.
  • Schools are expected to have a behaviour policy with anti-bullying measures and are held accountable by Ofsted.
  • Government is investing an extra 7 million this year to train senior mental health leads in schools and colleges.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey
Women & Equalities
Context

Following the tragic death of Brianna Ghey, Angela Eagle raised concerns about transphobic bullying.

Question

What steps are you taking to tackle transphobic bullying in schools? Research shows LGBT+ young people are twice as likely to be bullied and trans pupils face even worse conditions. The Secretary of State's predecessor promised last September to issue draft guidance on supporting trans pupils, but it has not appeared yet.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance to support schools in relation to transgender pupils. It is important to consider a wide range of views to get the guidance right, and we have committed to holding a public consultation on the draft guidance prior to publication.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific timeline for when the draft guidance will appear

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Q2 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Education Women & Equalities
Context

Concerns were raised about the necessity of recording incidents of transphobic bullying in schools.

Question

Can you commit to ensuring that schools are obligated to record incidents of transphobic bullying and provide guidance on how students can report such incidents? Research from Stonewall indicates that transgender students are more likely to experience bad experiences due to bullying at school or college.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

All schools have a behaviour policy including anti-bullying measures, and Ofsted holds them accountable. We are working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance supporting schools in relation to transgender pupils, aiming to consult widely on draft guidance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit specifically to obligating recording of incidents or providing specific reporting guidance

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Q3 Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey
Education Women & Equalities
Context

There was a delay in issuing draft guidance on supporting transgender pupils, impacting the needs of students and teachers.

Question

Can you tell us when this guidance will appear as it is needed by pupils and demanded by teachers? The predecessor promised last September to issue draft guidance but it has not appeared yet.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are working on the guidance with the Women and Equalities Minister. It is important to get it right, and we are committed to having a long consultation before publication.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific timeline for when the draft guidance will be published

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Q4 Miriam Cates
Education Safeguarding & DBS
Context

Concerns were raised about the delays in producing safeguarding guidance for schools regarding transgender pupils.

Question

What are the reasons for the delays in producing this guidance despite reports indicating the necessity of such measures? At least 80% of schools now have children with trans identities, up from a handful a decade ago. Vulnerable children, especially those who are autistic or in care, are over-represented among those reporting gender distress.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are working to ensure that the guidance is correct and represents all views. We must protect victims of bullying, including those with special educational needs, who may face increased amounts of bullying.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific reasons for delays or a timeline for guidance production

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Q5 David Evennett Con
Mental Health
Context

Discussion on the Government's investment to train senior mental health leads for schools.

Question

Can you confirm that this Government are investing an extra £7 million this year to train senior mental health leads for schools and colleges? Alongside academic recovery, supporting young people's mental health and wellbeing is a priority.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Yes, we are investing in senior mental health leads in each school. Mental health support teams are being rolled out across 26% of schools now with a target of 35% by 2024-25.

Answered
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