School that allowed pupil 'to identify as cat' faces government probe
The Government is set to investigate a school which is at the centre of a row over children being allowed to identify as animals
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The Government is set to investigate a school which is at the centre of a row over children being allowed to identify as animals.
A 13-year-old pupil was branded "despicable" by her teacher at Rye College, a state secondary in East Sussex after she refused to accept her classmate was a cat.
Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, is understood to have ordered an investigation into the school after the recorded conversation was released.
The argument spiralled following a class on “life education” in which they were told they can “be who you want to be and how you identify is up to you”.
Downing Street told headteachers that they should not be teaching children that they can identify as cats or other animals
PAThe school has since faced huge backlash, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also wading into the row via his spokesman, who said it is not right for children to be influenced by the "personal views" of teachers when it comes to transgender issues.
On Tuesday, Downing Street told headteachers that they should not be teaching children that they can identify as cats or other animals.
It comes after it emerged that school children are being allowed to identify as cats, horses, dinosaurs and, in one instance, a moon.
“Teachers should not be teaching contested ideology as fact. They must have due regard to safeguarding if a pupil identifies as an animal," a source close to Keegan said.
She has reportedly ordered the Department for Education’s regional director for the South East to visit Rye College and investigate whether pupils’ safety has been put at risk.
Students at the school were told they would be reported to a senior school leader for refusing to affirm their classmate’s preferred identity.
During the recording of the hostile exchange the teacher starts by saying “how dare you – you’ve just really upset someone” by “questioning their identity”.
The pupil responded: “If they want to identify as a cat or something then they are genuinely unwell – crazy.”
Students at the school were told they would be reported to a senior school leader for refusing to affirm their classmate’s preferred identity
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A spokesperson for Rye College, said: “Whilst we are not aware at this stage of any plans for a visit from the Department for Education, we will continue to keep them proactively updated on this situation and would of course support any enquiries they may have.
“We are committed to offering our pupils an inclusive education. Teachers endeavour to ensure that pupils’ views are listened to, and encourage them to ask questions and engage in discussion. Teachers also aim to answer questions sensitively and honestly.
“We strive to uphold the highest standards across the school. We are reviewing our processes and working with the relevant individuals to ensure such events do not take place in the future.”