FOI Request - Transgender Guidance

Request 101002871764

1a) Do your schools have a policy for provision of toilet and changing room facilities for transgender pupils?
1b)If so, please provide details of this policy.

2) How many of your schools currently have gender neutral toilet facilities? Please provide the number of schools with gender neutral facilities, and the total number of schools in your area.

3a)Has your education department been made aware of any transgender-related bullying incidents recorded by your schools in the last 3 years (August 2018- 2021)?

3b)If so, how many incidents?

3c)Of these incidents, how many have been reported to police?

4) What advice has the council provided to schools on supporting transgender pupils in general? Please provide a copy of the latest advice/guidance, if any has been issued to head teachers/schools in your area by the council.

5)What discussions has the local authority had regarding the Scottish Government's transgender guidance, issued on August 12? It is here, for reference: https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-transgender-young-people-schools-guidance-scottish-schools/documents/

Response 20-09-21

1a) Do your schools have a policy for provision of toilet and changing room facilities for transgender pupils?
Each school makes their own arrangement for transgender pupils through child’s planning.  
1b)If so, please provide details of this policy.
The Equalities and Diversity working group is developing guidance adapted from the Northern Alliance to further support schools.
2) How many of your schools currently have gender neutral toilet facilities? Please provide the number of schools with gender neutral facilities, and the total number of schools in your area.
3 new build schools have gender neutral toilet facilities.  There are 53 schools in Moray.
3a)Has your education department been made aware of any transgender-related bullying incidents recorded by your schools in the last 3 years (August 2018- 2021)?
Yes
3b)If so, how many incidents?
For the last three years Incidents Perceived Reason type ‘Gender Identity or Trans Identity’.  The number of incidents reported for Gender Identity or Trans Identity were:
2018-19 – * Due to the low numbers involved, this response is exempt from release as individuals may be identified. This response is exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002- personal information. 
2019-20 – * Due to the low numbers involved, this response is exempt from release as individuals may be identified. This response is exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - personal information. 
2020-21 – 8
3c)Of these incidents, how many have been reported to police?
We do not have any information on whether these incidents were reported to the police. This information is therefore exempt under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information Not Held. 

4) What advice has the council provided to schools on supporting transgender pupils in general? Please provide a copy of the latest advice/guidance, if any has been issued to head teachers/schools in your area by the council – INCLUDE ME website was launched by the Northern Alliance, all schools were invited to participate in the launch and share the information. The guidance from this website is being developed within a strategic working group,

5)What discussions has the local authority had regarding the Scottish Government's transgender guidance, issued on August 12? It is here, for reference: https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-transgender-young-people-schools-guidance-scottish-schools/documents/
This will be further used as part of the guidance development. All schools are aware of this documentation.