Non-Binary Working Group - Education Sub-Group: 17 February 2022

Attendees and apologies

Attendees

• Debbie Browett, Equalities and Student Wellbeing Team, Scottish Government
• Pauline Hendry, Equality in Education Team, Scottish Government
• Mairi Campbell, Support and Wellbeing Unit, Scottish Government

Group members

• Dr Ben Vincent, The Open University
• Vic Valentine, Scottish Trans
• Megan Snedden, Stonewall Scotland
• Katrina Mitchell, LGBT Health & Wellbeing
• Dr Carolynn Gray, The University of the West of Scotland, Non-binary Community Members, Secretariat
• Keir McDonald, Equality and Inclusion Division, Scottish Government

Apologies

• Oceana Maund, Scottish Trans
• Dr Peter Dunne, The University of Bristol
• Sarah Anderson, LGBT Youth Scotland

Items and actions

Key discussion points

The group discussed:

• written contributions from LGBT Youth Scotland
• recommending improvements to the SEEMiS system in conjunction with SQA and SEEMiS developers
• drafting a recommendation on a) continual training and cultural competence; and b) including non-binary people within inclusive education models and taking this idea to Time for Inclusive Education (TIE)
• addressing how information is shared between teachers and parents/guardians
• mentioning resources within education facilities, e.g. sanitary products, and making specific reference to under 18s
• avoiding making recommendations for actions already being taken on issues (e.g. bullying) and possibly adding non-binary specific recommendations to current work, so that this can be built upon
• the framing of a gender neutral facilities recommendation as the group understood this to be potentially controversial
• ensuring education-related recommendations are targeted, clear and resource-driven to make it clear why change is necessary
• existing work such as the Scottish Guidance Association’s Mental Health Strategy and work to review the PSE curriculum
• either creating a recommendation on evaluating progress for education or including evaluation as a point for all the recommendations
• evaluation would look at effects on both non-binary/trans and cisgender pupils
• developing two education-specific recommendations and incorporating other ideas within other recommendations