Guidance for Transgender inclusion in sport - About BPSS - Barnet Partnership For School Sport

Guidance for Transgender inclusion in sport

BPSS follows guidance from both Association for Physical Education & UK Sports Council when determining whether a student can take part in our competitions.

It is stated in the AfPE guidance that for competitions the following applies:

“The exemption within Section 195 of the Equalities Act 2010 makes it lawful to restrict participation of transsexual people in competitions where physical strength, stamina or physique are major factors in determining success or failure, if this is necessary to uphold fair competition, but not otherwise If the physical strength, stamina or physique of the average pupil of one sex would put him or her at an advantage compared to the average pupil of the other sex as a competitor in a sport, game or other competitive activity, it is not unlawful for those arranging the event to restrict participation in the activity to pupils of one sex. Sports which come under this heading are referred to in the Act as a ‘Gendered Activity.”

Within the UK Sports Council Guidance (2021) is also states the National Governing Bodies of Sport should consider that “Based upon current evidence, testosterone suppression is unlikely to guarantee fairness between transgender women and natal females in gender-affected sports: Transgender women are on average likely to retain physical advantage in terms of physique, stamina, and strength. Such physical differences will also impact safety parameters in sports which are combat, collision or contact in nature.”

Whilst at BPSS we want to ensure inclusion of students at all our events, we will also need to abide by the above documents and guidance to ensure fairness at our competitions. 

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