Fury as £15,951-a-year private school ‘reports parents of trans student to social workers for refusing to affirm their daughter’s new identity’

The parents of a student at a £15,951-a-year private school in Edinburgh were allegedly reported to social workers by staff after they refused to affirm their daughter’s transgender identity. 

George Watson’s College called social services at the end of 2020 after the parents, who acted on advice from psychologists, asked the school to carry out a ‘watchful waiting’ approach to their child. 

This is where a child’s view of their gender is closely monitored by staff without social or medical intervention, with evidence suggesting that some children wanting to change gender will revert to identifying as their biological sex. 

But the school said it would take the approach of ‘respecting his [the pupil’s] wishes to use the masculine pronouns,’ because this was in the best interest of the child. 

The school said it was given a gold award from trans activist charity LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) in 2019. 

The mother of the child said the school would defer to the charity rather than listen to the parents, who were acting on clinical guidance. 

George Watson’s College (pictured) allegedly reported parents to social services after they refused to affirm their daughter’s transgender identity

The school runs an LGBT club, which the child had joined, according to The Telegraph. 

The mother told the newspaper: ‘We were repeatedly lied to by the school.

‘I feel that our child was just seen as a little guinea pig by the school and LGBT Youth Scotland.’ 

She added: ‘We had received two expert opinions, including from a specialist in gender, not to challenge our child but that adults should basically turn a blind eye, and not affirm her. 

‘But these experts were repeatedly dismissed by teachers.’ 

Information the mother got from the school after making a Subject Access Request showed her child’s ‘preferred name’ was changed on the school’s systems. 

The child then said they identified as male, and the school addressed the student using male pronouns, reportedly without telling the parents. 

Correspondence with social services said the child was ‘anxious’ after social work was contacted.

A spokesman for George Watson’s College said: ‘Social and gender transitioning are amongst the most challenging and polarising issues facing schools today.

The school said it was given a gold award from trans activist charity LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) in 2019

‘We have always worked collaboratively with parents and apologise to those involved in this case for any distress caused by what are difficult and challenging circumstances.

‘Every school in Scotland has to weigh up parental engagement with the rights of children, with transitioning being a fluid and ongoing challenge for all.

‘The welfare of our pupils remains our first priority and we continue to work constructively with both parents and their children as we work through these matters.’

A spokesman for LGBTYS said George Watson’s said: ‘When it comes to advising on supporting trans pupils in schools we always refer to Scottish government guidance.’

Paediatrician Hilary Cass, who had her landmark review into child gender services in the English NHS published in April, warned about the potential dangers of social transitioning. 

Dr Cass called for a cautious approach in schools, adding that social transitioning could lead children to go down the path of a potentially damaging medical pathway.