A British schoolboy has been officially allowed to identify himself as a wolf, the Mail can reveal.
The high school student is said to suffer from “species dysphoria,” which is when someone claims their body belongs to a different species.
Teachers are said to be supporting the young man.
An increasing number of schoolchildren are said to be adopting creature personas including foxes, dragons, birds, snakes, sharks and even dinosaurs.
However, clinical neuropsychologist Dr Tommy MacKay insisted last night: “There is no such thing as a condition in science called ‘species dysphoria’. It’s not surprising that we’re seeing this at a time when so many people want to identify as something other than who they are.”
British schoolboy suffers from ‘species dysphoria’ and identifies as a wolf
“We now have a board that seems to wholeheartedly accept a child identifying as a wolf, rather than telling them to react and control themselves, which would be a common-sense approach.”
Confirmation of the first known case in Scotland of a school admitting a pupil identifies as an animal has been revealed in official documents.
The Mail is aware of the name of the council involved but has decided not to reveal it to protect the identity of the child in question.
The local authority said the pupil belonged to a group who called themselves “furries” and identified with “animal characters”. The council said it offered “personal support” and “more targeted support” from a “wellbeing worker”, including counselling and help with learning, adding: “There is very little specific guidance on species dysphoria.”
She explained that she followed the Scottish Government’s Getting It Right For Every Child (Girfec) guidance, and used a “wellbeing wheel” to support pupils regardless of the learning barriers or challenges they face.
The Wheel of Wellbeing is a diagram used in Girfec’s guidance that emphasises the importance of helping children “overcome inequalities” and ensuring their voices are heard in “decisions that affect their lives, with support where appropriate”.
The council has been contacted for further comment.
The news comes after a school in Aberdeenshire had to deny rumours last year that a pupil identified himself as a cat and had been given a litter tray in the toilets.
Earlier this year it emerged that groups of TikTok users were organising meet-ups across Britain for those who identified as animals.
The local authority followed Scottish Government guidelines and used a ‘wellbeing wheel’ to support pupils regardless of the barriers to learning or challenges they face.
Meghan Gallacher, a Conservative MP in the Scottish Parliament, said: ‘Teachers who are already under significant pressure due to SNP cuts should not feel they have to tiptoe around issues in the classroom.
‘With all the other challenges facing schools, ministers must ensure that teachers feel confident that they can take a common-sense approach when these situations arise.’
The Scottish Government declined to comment. It is understood that there are no guidelines (or plans to develop them) specifically to support people who claim to have species dysphoria.
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