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Responses needed to Vale od Glamorgan's Transgender Toolkit needed today!
Published on March 17, 2023 by Keira Evans
It has come to our attention that a transphobic organsiation by the name of Merched Cymru plans to have input into a trans inclusion programme based in Vale of Glamorgan. They intend to submit misinformed and transphobic responses in an attempt to prevent transgender inclusion. We're asking for others to submit responses to ensure a wide range of LGBTQ+ voices are heard. 

The public consultation on the new Trans Inclusion Toolkit is open until Friday 17 March which can be viewed here.

You don't have to be a resident of Vale of Glamorgan to participate and it should take a total of 10 minutes!

Feel free to email to [email protected] and explain that you're responding to the consultation for the Transgender Inclusion Toolkit. 

Below are some helpful main points:

  • Guidance is important to make sure students are supported and that teachers know how best to support them. 
  • Following the RSE guidance on teaching students about gender, and sex is important to ensure students have a good understanding of both
  • Trans and gender diverse students shouldn't be questioned thoroughly on their wish to transition, instead focus on supporting the student and listening to what they say they need.
  • Affirming gender diverse students is important. This should be done by both staff and other students, and teachers should be aware that gender diverse students may be at higher risk of bullying. 
  • Following the Equality Act 2010 is important, especially that it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on their gender or gender reassignment, a person does not have to undergo, have undergone or be in the process of undergoing surgery to reassign their sex to be protected.
  • Equal access to toilets and changing rooms for gender diverse students is hugely important. That is the case regardless of where they are in their transition. Where possible, mixed toilets throughout the school including gender neutral toilets with bins included. These should be spread out so gender diverse students don't have to travel far to use them. Transforming disabled toilets to gender neutral shouldn't be the only option, as it limits space for both gender diverse and disabled students. 
  • Being transgender has NOT been scientifically proven to provide an advantage in sports when participating with cis peers. Preventing gender diverse students participating with their respective cis peers is cruel.

TAC’s guide to answering the questionnaire:

For questions 1-3, you’ll be asked about who you are (a governor, a parent, a pupil, an organisation) and you can identify which organisation you’re from (if you need to).

The Questionnaire follows the Toolkit through each section - so it might be handy to have it open as you go through the Questionnaire. It’s always helpful for organisations to know what works and what doesn’t - so let them know where they’ve done well, but also mention areas for improvement!


Section 1: Introduction

Question 4 - How important do you think having this guidance document and toolkit is to ensure trans and gender exploring children and young people feel safe to learn?

Multiple choice answer - select your level of importance. 

Question 5 - Do you have any comments to add?

You might want to comment on:
  • The resources that have informed the document are good - Brighton and Hove’s document, and Allsorts charity
  • Trans young people who are supported and validated are 60% less likely to experience depression and 73% less likely to experience suicidality when compared to youths who did not receive gender-affirming interventions - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789423?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=022522 )
  • It’s comprehensive, cross references against EYSTN and other Welsh Government guidance already in place, as well as correctly employing the Equality Act 2010 guidance around the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.
  • Guidance is important to make sure students are supported and that teachers know how best to support them. 
  • Following the RSE guidance on teaching students about gender, and sex is important to ensure students have a good understanding of both


Section 2: Developing understanding of trans, non-binary and gender exploring children and young people

Question 6: Do you agree or disagree this section helps build understanding of sex, gender and sexual orientation?


Multiple choice answer - select your preference. 

Question 7 - Do you have any comments to add?


You might want to comment on:


  • Good to recognise that identity is personal and individual and may be subject to change. 
  • Very good that the definitions will be reviewed 
  • Good that they’re encouraging students to self-describe



Section 3 - Legal Context and ESTYN Framework

This section goes over legal context, such as the Equality Act 2010, as well as guidance which informs schools and education providers such as ESTYN and the Welsh Government.


Question 8 - Do you agree or disagree this section provides useful information for schools?


Multiple choice answer - select your preference. 

Question 9 - Do you have any comments to add?

You might want to mention:

  • “Effective leaders recognise that there are no standard or simple solutions to these challenges, and there is a need for dialogue with all involved.”
  • Following the Equality Act 2010 is important, especially that it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on their gender or gender reassignment, a person does not have to undergo, have undergone or be in the process of undergoing surgery to reassign their sex to be protected.
  • Being trans is not in itself a safeguarding issue - important that they’ve recognised this
  • Affirming gender diverse students is important. This should be done by both staff and other students, and teachers should be aware that gender diverse students may be at higher risk of bullying. 


Section 4 - A whole school approach to being inclusive

“This section offers suggestions for how the whole school community welcomes trans inclusion. This includes governors, policy development, anti-bullying and curriculum and the need to challenge gender stereotyping and prevent and respond to sexist, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.”

Question 10 - Do you agree or disagree with the approach suggested to schools in section 4?

Multiple choice answer - select your preference. 

Question 11 - Do you have any comments to add?

It might be good to mention:
  • Good to see intent to attend trans awareness training for govenors
  • Excellent to see they are taking transphobic and sexual bullying seriously


Section 5 - Supporting trans, non-binary or gender exploring children or young people

This section sets out some general ideas for how to support children and young people including coming out, supporting parents and transition. It states clearly that anything to do with medical transition is outside of the remit of schools.


Question 12 - Do you agree or disagree with the approach suggested in this section?


Multiple choice answer - select your preference. 

Question 13 - Do you have any comments to add?


Section 6 - Managing specific issues for trans, non-binary and gender exploring children and young people

This section covers a range of topics for schools to consider when supporting trans, non-binary and gender exploring children and young people including access to toilets, changing rooms, uniform etc. It recommends taking a case by case approach to support. This section explains that access to single sex provision such as toilets, changing rooms, residential accommodation and competitive sport refers only to trans children and young people who have taken ‘steps to live in the opposite gender’ and have for example changed their name, pronoun and dress.


Question 12 - Do you agree or disagree with the approach suggested to schools in section 6?

Multiple choice answer - select your preference. 

Question 13 - Do you have any comments to add?

Here, mention:

  • Being transgender has NOT been scientifically proven to provide an advantage in sports when participating with cis peers. Preventing gender diverse students participating with their respective cis peers is cruel.
  • Equal access to toilets and changing rooms for gender diverse students is hugely important. That is the case regardless of where they are in their transition. Where possible, mixed toilets throughout the school including gender neutral toilets with bins included. These should be spread out so gender diverse students don't have to travel far to use them. Transforming disabled toilets to gender neutral shouldn't be the only option, as it limits space for both gender diverse and disabled students. 
  • Neopronouns - fab that they’ve mentioned this!
  • Uniform
  • Work experience - perhaps use your position to remind other employers/work experience providers that they’re bound by the Equality Act 2010 just as much as the school/education provider is, and to avoid any work experience provider who has a negative track record??


Section 7 and 8 - Providing help and support

These sections acknowledge that the toolkit doesn’t cover trans staff or governors - but provides some external guidance. It also provides information about the Families First Advice Line (Vale of Glamorgan Council)

Question 16 - Do you have any comments on sections 7 and 8 of the Toolkit?