Mother fumes after 14-year-old son ‘is requested whether or not he’s comfy in his gender’ in nationwide faculties survey
A mother has been left enraged after her 14-year-old son was asked if he was ‘comfortable in his gender‘ in a national schools survey.
A British parent, who anonymously posted to Mumsnet, said that her teenage son had been asked to fill in an online form alongside his fellow pupils.
She said the schoolboy had been asked about his sexual orientation and if he was ‘comfortable’ in his gender.
Other questions included if a pupils have had any sexual experiences and if they had received or sent inappropriate pictures to others, she said.
It was claimed it came from the My Health, My School Survey, a nationally available questionnaire.
According to its website, these surveys are carried out on pupils from year three to year 11 with each having tailored age-appropriate questions to ‘generate vital information on the health and well-being’ of students.
Reflecting on the survey her son had been asked to fill out, the mother wrote: ‘I understand some questions are safeguarding views.
‘But b***** hell the sexual orientation etc why on earth is that relevant to my son’s schooling?
A mother has been left enraged after her 14-year-old son was asked if he was ‘comfortable in his gender ‘ in a national schools survey (file image)
Other questions included if a pupil have any sexual experiences and if they had received or sent inappropriate pictures to others
A description of the nationally available survey from the My Health, My School Survey website
She alleged that teachers at the school – which has not been identified – discouraged her son from ticking the ‘Prefer not to say’ option on the questionnaire.
‘I just feel his privacy has been really invaded and he doesn’t know himself whether he’s is straight/gay or whatever,’ she added.
The My Health, My School Survey is made up of ten themes which include questions about gambling, drug, alcohol and tobacco and sexual health.
Other survey topics also include an ‘All About Me’ section, as well as questions surrounding diet, play, physical activity, mental health and school.
The separate pupil perception survey is also carried out for children over the age of 16 as well as those special education needs.
Lucy Marsh, from the Family Education Trust, told MailOnline: ‘Asking questions of a sexual nature to children in Year 9 and signposting them to sexual health providers like Brook is completely unacceptable.
‘This a gross violation of privacy of both the child and their family.
‘Schools should not require children to complete surveys about their personal life and sexuality as this has no bearing on their education.
‘It is also inappropriate to obtain such information without permission from their parents.
‘Children under the age of 16 should not be exposed to explicit sexual language or encouraged to think that underage sexual activity is normal.’
MailOnline has contacted My Health, My School and the Department for Education for comment.
