Senior educationalists speak out on the impact of gender ideology on Scottish schools
- Administrator
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
In August 2025, ScotPAG interviewed two highly experienced professionals in promoted posts who demonstrated their in-depth knowledge about the complexities and challenges of today’s Scottish education system. ScotPAG interviewed a former manager in a large education service and a head teacher of a moderately sized primary school. Both interviewees shared their concerns about the impact gender ideology and the transgender movement is having on our Scottish education system, the teaching profession, pupils and their families.
Both interviewees are anonymous. Our Scottish context remains a place where it is difficult for open discussion and critical thinking to occur without recourse to being attacked by activists and punished by employers. This blog contains selected highlights only. You can read the full article here
For the sake of clarity, we have coded the quotes as follows:
EM : education manager
HT : head teacher
Gender ideology: what concerns?
EM: ‘I had concerns right away. I was worried about how children might be affected, especially the influence of social media. Initially though, I expected gender ideology to be largely a niche issue. ……I find it appalling that society and its leaders have mostly taken a view that is simply not impartial.…….I worry that the young people of today are sleepwalking into serious issues, both physical and mental.’
The Scottish Government’s ‘trans’ guidance for school pupils
EM: ‘I thought the guidance was shockingly misinformed and did not present a balanced approach. I thought the guidance was pandering to an ideology that is basically just a fad. I thought that the guidance was potentially dangerous, not based on sound evidence and not at all helpful to anyone, let alone professionals in the Scottish education system.’
Open discussion or no debate?
HT: ‘There’s no way we would promote gender ideology in our school. My staff know that it’s ok not to agree about gender ideology and that it’s safe for them to air their views.’
EM: ‘It has been very tricky to navigate the issues created by the gender ideologues as they became so influential. ….It really did feel that some of our politicians were pressuring us to promote this in schools.’
EM: ‘I raised the issue with some educational psychologists but they were reluctant to engage in discussion with me.’
The harms caused by gender ideology
HT: ‘Children are being encouraged to believe lies and to disbelieve facts. This has huge potential to confuse children and to cause mental stress. I also think that there are huge cultural and societal implications for promoting what is in effect a mass deception.’
EM: ‘Safeguarding of children is compromised ... It’s unhelpful and confusing to children and adults alike to peddle ideas not based on reality ... It’s psychologically harmful to tell kids lies about their bodies ... There are clear medical harms caused by making kids think they should seek puberty blockers, surgery etc.’
What is surprising about the gender ideology movement?
EM: ‘It’s hard to credit the behaviour of some seemingly intelligent people who have bought into an ideology that is extremely damaging to children ... Adolescence is such a difficult time for many children as they are experimenting with themselves and are trying to find out who they are. The last thing they need is for a bogus ideology to come along and tell them that they are born in the wrong body or can change sex.’
HT: ‘I’ve been surprised that something so obviously false has become so powerful across all our public institutions.’
Are schools responsible for children thinking that they can change sex?
HT: ‘Yes in part, especially if you are willing to teach all of the Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenting (RSHP) module. There is a section in the Primary part which discusses ‘trans’ and affirmation … gender ideology is interwoven throughout the secondary RSHP. So there’s real ‘product placement’
going on. Also LGBTYS has had a huge influence especially in secondary schools.’
EM: 'Yes…schools are hierarchical and are deeply influenced by the Scottish Government and council policies as well as the views promoted by their Trade Unions. They are unlikely to challenge either as a result.’
What about the role of the regulatory body Education Scotland?
EM: ‘Education Scotland … should be clear about the standards it is setting and clear about safeguarding. It has presided over the ‘trans’ school guidance and its unbalanced and fictitious representation of ‘trans’ issues. It would appear to be dominated by a Scottish Government agenda and has no critical evaluation of the potential harms of gender ideology.’
HT: ‘They [Education Scotland] have been captured by gender ideology and have gone along with it completely. They have sanctioned Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) which promotes gender ideology as compulsory for all schools. Education Scotland have failed to think critically and failed to look at the evidence.’
What action should our leaders and politicians be taking?
HT: ‘They should be the adults in the room. They should be understanding what the cultural impact is on society for promoting a lie. Instead, many individual leaders and politicians seem to have joined in on promoting the lie. They should have been taking a lead in stopping this deception.’
EM: ‘Educational leaders should get rid of the schools ‘trans’ guidance as a matter of urgency. Currently our Scottish educational leaders are burying their heads in the sand, especially given the Supreme Court ruling.'
To sum up
HT: ‘So many children do feel different and it is just a normal part of growing up. That is nothing new. But over the last decade, children have been encouraged and indoctrinated to think that there is something wrong with themselves. Those children who feel like they don’t fit in, and children in general, have been encouraged down the rabbit hole of gender ideology which has the attraction of badges, banners, affirmation and being made to feel special. This is a collective harm which in turn, harms society.’
Interviews were conducted by Carolyn Brown, ScotPAG Convenor
Both interviews are published in full on our website Education pages:
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