Scottish Education in Ruins!
- Apr 19
- 4 min read
We are exposing a Scottish Government that will not engage in discussion regarding their education agenda which is not only flouting the law in terms of recognising the reality of sex but is also ignoring the findings of extensive robust research findings regarding social transitioning in schools. It is also clear that ‘trans inclusive’ policies in education compromise children’s safeguarding.
Here is our letter to the Scottish Minister for Education, Jenny Gilruth printed in full :
Ms. Jenny Gilruth
Minister for Education
Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
31st March 2026
Dear Ms Gilruth,
I am writing on behalf of ScotPAG. We are a multiagency group of Scottish professionals from the fields of Education, Health, and Social Work.
We wrote to you on 17th October 2026 regarding our concerns about the guidance, Supporting Transgender Pupils in Schools. You did not respond other than an acknowledgment of receipt. In our letter of the 17th of October, we warned you that the updated guidance for schools (published 29th September 2025) is of significant concern. We drew your attention to the evidence we published, as outlined below.
We stated that the updated guidance did not improve upon the previous guidance for schools, and that it still created potential safeguarding issues, as outlined below.
We noted in our letter of 17th October 2025, that the Scottish Government had refused to listen to, or consult with ScotPAG members. This is despite the fact that we are a multiagency group of experienced and respected professionals, with many decades of knowledge about child development. We noted that it appeared that the Scottish Government preferred to listen to activists rather than experienced professionals. We also noted in that letter, that there was growing anger amongst many families who have experienced harm caused to their children and their family life by the promotion of gender ideology in Scottish schools.
We prompted you on 30th November 2025 to reply but received no response.
Given the seriousness of our concerns and your lack of a response, we raised the issue with Douglas Ross in his capacity as Convenor of the Education Children and Young People Committee. Mr. Ross raised the issue of our attempts to engage with you at this Committee Meeting.
We were subsequently offered a meeting online with your representatives from the Learning Directorate. Four members of ScotPAG met with Learning Directorate representatives on 20th February. (Meeting record attached). Four weeks later we finally received a response from your representatives (see attached).
We consider the response to be entirely inadequate. It fails to address any of the many concerns we raised.
The letter is a textbook example of ideological dogma and a complete failure of impartiality. The letter prioritises the affirmation of gender identity: a contested belief, over biological sex. It fails entirely to access evidence from international research and in any genuine way, from the Cass Review. It fails to acknowledge or respect parental rights. And it breaches key principles of child safeguarding. We asked the civil servants to produce the advice that they provided to you regarding this guidance which continues to advise teachers that secrecy from parents is legal and in children’s best interests.
Your representatives’ response was insulting, and merely repeated activists’ claims in order to continue endorsing the guidance, Supporting Transgender Pupils in Schools. It has been widely commented that the Scottish Government guidance is deeply flawed as it continues to support social transition, refers to poor research, recommends only gender affirmative resources, and facilitates significant safeguarding issues where parents have been, and can continue to be excluded from decision making about their children.
We are therefore making the exchange public alongside our repeated warnings, that you are harming children and damaging public and professional confidence in the Scottish education system.
Yours sincerely
Carolyn Brown, ScotPAG Convenor & retired Depute Principal Psychologist
Co-signatories
Dr Brigid Daniel, Professor Emerita, Queen Margaret University
Maggie Mellon, Senior Social Worker
June Campbell, NHS Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist (Retired)
Carole McKenzie, Retired Director of Education and former HMI Inspector of Schools
CC
Jackie Baillie MSP, Claire Baker MSP, Sharon Dowey MSP, Fergus Ewing MSP, Russell Findley MSP, Murdo Fraser MSP, Megan Gallagher MSP, Pam Gosal MSP, Sandesh Gulhame MSP, Rachael Hamilton MSP, Liam Kerr MSP, Roz McCall MSP, Pauline McNeil MSP, Carol Mochan MSP, Edward Mountain MSP, Paul O’Kane MSP, Mr Douglas Ross MSP, Tess White MSP, Brian Whittle MSP
We have also received a response which we can display here :
Directorate for Education
Graeme Logan and Clare Hicks, Directors
Carolyn Brown
By email: cbrown303@btinternet.com
___
Your ref: 202600513331
Our ref: Re: ScotPAG Meeting on your behalf with the Learning Directorate
7 April 2026
Dear Carolyn Brown,
Thank you for your letter of 31 March 2026 to Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills regarding the recent meeting of representatives of the Learning Directorate on 20th February and the subsequent letter which officials provided to you on 21 March which was the agreed action from the meeting. The further information which you have provided is noted. The information contained within the letter provided to you of 21 March sets out the Scottish Government's position on the concerns that ScotPAG raised in the meeting in relation to a range of matters, including the Supporting Transgender Pupils in Schools Guidance 2025. For the purposes of the record only, the meeting on 20 February was attended by five representatives of ScotPAG, the signatories to your letter of 31 March, rather than four as set out in your most recent correspondence.
Yours sincerely
Director of Education
Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Sadly, Ms Gilruth’s lackeys can only rise to mentioning a typo while completely ignoring the issues raised regarding major safeguarding concerns for children attending our schools. No wonder Scottish Education is failing! Parents and all alert citizens take note!
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