School where teacher called a girl ‘despicable’ for questioning another pupil’s request to identify as a cat is investigated by Ofsted
- Inspection carried after an intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch
The school at the centre of a row over a pupil identifying as a cat is being investigated by regulators.
Ofsted carried out an inspection of Rye College after an intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch.
Earlier this month, a teacher at the East Sussex school was recorded telling a girl she was ‘despicable’ for questioning another pupil’s request to identify as a cat.
Mrs Badenoch urged Ofsted to take action over alleged ‘safeguarding issues’ and claimed the teacher, who told two 13-year-old girls there are ‘lots of genders’, breached the legal requirement for political impartiality in classrooms.
An Ofsted spokesman stressed it was not investigating ‘specific incidents’, adding: ‘We considered the letter from the minister as a complaint, alongside others, and followed up with the school and other relevant agencies.’
A spokesman for Aquinas Church of England Trust, which runs Rye College, said: ‘Ofsted has now visited the school and we of course fully supported and engaged with the process.
‘More widely, we understand that draft guidance on gender identity in schools is expected to be issued by the Government soon and we would of course welcome what we hope will be clear and helpful guidance.’
The video, filmed by a pupil at Rye College, includes a heated exchange in which the disgruntled teacher says the youngster needed a ‘proper educational conversation about equality, diversity and inclusion’.
It begins with the teacher asking the pupil: ‘How dare you? You just really upset someone, saying things like [you] should be in an asylum.’
The girl responds: ‘I didn’t say that, I just said if they want to identify as a cow or something, then they are genuinely unwell, and they’re crazy.’
‘You were questioning their identity,’ the teacher replies. ‘Where did you get this idea from that there are only two genders?’
‘I just said my opinion,’ the pupil replies. ‘If I can respect their opinion, can’t they respect mine?’ The teacher goes on to assert there are ‘lots of genders’ including ‘transgender’ and ‘agender’.
The teacher then links the girl’s gender-critical attitude with ‘homophobia’, adding: ‘It is not an opinion… if you don’t like it, you need to go to a different school’.
Ofsted carried out an inspection of Rye College after an intervention by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch (pictured)
The girl defends herself by saying she was respectful, but admits she felt compelled to ask her classmate ‘how can you identify as a cat, when you are girl?’
The teacher does not refer to anyone identifying as a cat in the remarks on the recording.
The secondary school is graded as good by Ofsted, and in its previous incarnation as Thomas Peacocke Community College, boasts Stella McCartney as an alumnus.
A school spokesman said after the incident that the teacher should have acted differently, by ‘ensuring that pupils’ views are listened to’ and ‘encouraging them to ask questions and engage in discussion’ – instead of angrily shutting down debate on a controversial issue.
They said: ‘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 will be reviewing our processes and working with the relevant individuals to ensure such events do not take place in the future.’
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