East Riding of Yorkshire Council will debate a motion at its Full Council meeting on 29 July 2026 after a councillor called for a section on transgender admissions to be removed from the authority’s draft school admissions policy for 2027/28.
What is under scrutiny
The contested passage, titled "Admission of Transgender Pupils to a Single-Sex School", sets out how the council proposes to manage admissions for the area’s only maintained single-sex girls’ school, Beverley High School for Girls. The section permits the admission of transgender pupils under the current wording, a stance that has prompted objections from some councillors and members of the public.
"Admission of Transgender Pupils to a Single-Sex School"
Cllr Samantha Christon-Whyte, a former pupil of Beverley High School for Girls, has tabled a motion seeking the removal of that section. In public comments reported by campaigners, she has argued the policy should reflect recent legal developments and preserve the nature of a female-only environment.
Legal context cited
The debate follows a series of developments in national law and guidance. Coverage accompanying the motion references a UK Supreme Court ruling that defined "sex" in the context of the Equality Act 2010 in biological terms, alongside updates to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Code of Practice. Those changes form part of the reasoning advanced by critics of the current policy wording.
Local reaction
Joanne Donoghue, a parent campaigning on the issue, has criticised the council for adopting an approach she says was not sufficiently clear to families when first published. The issue has attracted attention because it touches on both the rights of transgender pupils and the principles that govern single-sex education in the maintained sector.
- Subject under debate: Admissions policy for 2027/28
- School affected: Beverley High School for Girls (maintained single-sex)
- Councillor raising motion: Samantha Christon-Whyte
- Full Council meeting: 29 July 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Policy section | Admission of Transgender Pupils to a Single-Sex School |
| School | Beverley High School for Girls |
| Council meeting | 29 July 2026 |
The outcome of the council debate will determine whether the current wording remains in the admissions policy for 2027/28. The decision is likely to shape local practice on admissions and could influence how the authority balances legal guidance, school character and parental expectations.
Ahead of the meeting, Cllr Christon-Whyte has indicated she is willing to discuss the proposed change with colleagues and members of the public. The council’s decision will be the definitive local position unless further legal or policy changes occur at national level.
Further information on the Full Council agenda and any related documentation should be available from East Riding of Yorkshire Council in advance of the 29 July meeting.
