Brody's Notes... British School Head Tries To Bans Transgender Teen From Sitting Exams

Ashlyn Parram, (Left) and mother, Miranda Johnson

By Mark Singer | BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE, UK -- A 16 year old British school girl was told that she couldn't take her GCSE exam until she changed into a proper school uniform- her birth gender of a boy's. Ashlyn Parram, wearing a girl's uniform of wore girl's tights, a skirt and blazer was warned by the Giles Academy's headmaster, Chris Wall, that unless "he" went and changed back into a boy's uniform and presented "himself" for exams as a male, then "he" wouldn't be able to sit the exams which mark the end of secondary education in Britain.

Parram, who has openly lived as a girl at home for two years but has dressed in a neutral fashion at the school to avoid conflict and abuse, went home and printed off a copy of Britain's Equality Act which she then took to school and confronted Wall with.

Parram pointed out that the law prevented Wall or other school officials from barring her from taking the test regardless of her appearance and he conceded that he legally could not prevent her from sitting the exam.

The difficulties faced by the teen did not end with the recalcitrant Headmaster Wall as she was admitted to the exam room she was forced to sit apart from the other pupils on the other side of the room by herself.

In an interview with British tabloid paper The Sun, Her mother, Miranda Johnson says Ashlyn — who was officially diagnosed with gender dysphoria — is a girl born in a boy’s body.

"The way Ashlyn has been treated by the school is just appalling. To be made to sit on your own during an exam like that is horrendous. It shouldn't be allowed to happen in this day and age - especially not in schools." 

Johnson added, "If Ashlyn had been black, or disabled there would be uproar.

The reality is she is a vulnerable teenager who needs the support and help of her teachers, not their opposition."

Johnson also told the Sun that the family has lodged a formal complaint against Mr Walls, who they claim has failed to help protect Ashlyn, adding that she has been forced to endure a string of bullying and discrimination by pupils - and even teachers without assistance or support from the school's officials. According to Johnson one instructor even told them gender dysphoria doesn't exist, saying; "This is Lincolnshire - we are a very conservative county - we don't have things like that."

A spokesman for Giles Academy said:

"Giles Academy is an Ofsted Outstanding school in a caring environment with robust Equalities Policies. The Governing Body of the Academy rejects all the allegations. 

Our key concerns are to ensure our duty of care to all our students and to further ensure that they reach their full potential academically and become well rounded members of society."