'Dangerous and unfair': Trans pupils to be blocked from playing sport with opposite sex under new plans

30 April 2023, 07:43

New advice is due to be released in weeks
New advice is due to be released in weeks. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Transgender school pupils will be stopped from joining some PE lessons with children from the other biological sex.

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The Government plans to allow mixed lessons in some sports, such as tennis.

But it is set to say that it would be dangerous and unfair to allow pupils born as males but now identifying as females, or vice versa, to join in mixed rugby sessions.

New advice will also recommend that trans pupils are blocked from using toilets and changing rooms designed for the opposite sex while schools will need to tell parents if their child wants to change their gender.

That comes after it emerged almost half of secondary schools in England allow their pupils to change their gender identity without their parents being told.

"In sports like rugby, it would be dangerous and unfair as biological boys are bigger and stronger," a Government source said.

Trans pupils will be barred from playing some sports with the gender they now identify as
Trans pupils will be barred from playing some sports with the gender they now identify as. Picture: Alamy

Rishi Sunak is due to release new guidance for schools in the coming weeks.

"Headteachers will be allowed to have mixed PE lessons where that is not such a worry — for example, tennis," an insider told The Sun.

Read more: Firebomb victims 'lucky to be alive' as police treat East London arson attack as transphobic hate crime

"But when sport is competitive, or when safety is a concern, girls' spaces should be protected."

It follows controversy surrounding a transgender athlete who ran in the London marathon's women's race, finishing ahead of nearly 14,000 women, who offered to give back her medal.

Glenique Frank, 54, from Northamptonshire, previously insisted she had not cheated by entering the race.

The new advice will be issued within weeks
The new advice will be issued within weeks. Picture: Alamy

She crossed the line after four hours, 11 minutes and 28 seconds - coming in 6,160th place out of 20,123 competitors.

But Ms Frank has since insisted she will give back her medal if necessary.

Read more: Trans athlete who ran in female category at London Marathon offers to return medal after beating nearly 14,000 women

"If they want me to give my medal back, I'll say, "OK, fine. No problem," she told the New York Post.

"If they really think I've stolen the place [of a female runner], I don't mind giving the medal back, because I'll run again next year for charity."

"But I don't want to apologise, because I didn't do anything wrong," Ms Frank added.

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