Guide should support teachers make inclusive decisions

New guidance has been produced by a teachers’ union in Scotland to make transgender people feel more included.

The guidance, produced by NASUWT, will also help stop teachers being "hounded out" of the profession and widespread bullying of pupils.

In the document staff are urged not to address colleagues as ladies and gentlemen, for example, and not to divide classes into groups of boys and girls unnecessarily to avoid potential exclusion of trans children.

James Morton of the Scottish Trans Alliance (STA), said the move was a positive marker for progressive teaching.

“We know that it is particularly difficult for teachers to come out as transgender due to high levels of prejudice in society . . . Some [of the small number of teachers STA has supported] have been verbally abused and even physically attacked in hate crimes,” he said.

“Most have been subjected to malicious gossip and discrimination in job interviews.”

The guide, called Trans Equality in Schools and Colleges — Advice and Guidance for Teachers and Leaders, warns that prejudice and bias “remain rife” in society.

It goes as far as mentioning lavatories, noting that new-build schools could have unisex facilities, while traditional schools might consider designating certain cubicles as unisex for gender non-conforming and non-binary pupils to use if they wished.

It concludes: “Teachers and children have transitioned in schools and colleges across the UK. Experience has shown that these matters should not impact teaching or learning.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “Scotland is recognised as one of the most progressive countries in Europe on LGBTI rights; however there is more to do to tackle all forms of prejudice.”