Fife College has been criticised for asking 16 and 17-year-old students about their sexuality.
The teenagers were asked to complete registration forms and indicate whether they were bisexual, a gay man, a lesbian, a heterosexual, or ‘prefer not to say’.
The questions came on the same form they completed with innocent personal details such as their age, address and contact details.
Some students have claimed it is an invasion of their privacy. Several college staff have also expressed concern.
They demanded to know why such a personal question is on the front of the form along with their names when the information could be provided anonymously.
A staff source at the college in Kirkcaldy told The Courier they thought the questions were “irrelevant and bizarre”.
The source said: “It’s a new question that’s just come in on the forms this year. But what does sexuality have to do with what you are doing at college? It seems very intrusive and irrelevant to me.
“Students have expressed surprise they are being asked the question but, as far as I know, they have all answered it because they think that’s what you have to do. But students are nervous enough on their first day. They shouldn’t be put in this position.”
Campaigners at LGBT Scotland told The Courier they were “not aghast” at students being asked the question.
A spokesman said: “From our point of view, we would always suggest that equal opportunities monitoring takes place and sexual orientation information should be part of that. It is important to know what the break-down of students are to cater for their needs.”
A college spokesman told The Courier: “Fife College is committed to equalities at all stages of our engagement with learners. To this end, we request such information to facilitate and enhance our capacity to support all of our students.
“In complying with equalities legislation, we are required from 2014/15 to ask these questions in a total of nine protected areas, one of which is sexual orientation.
“Students are at no stage obliged to disclose such information and can either not give permission for such disclosure or tick that they prefer not to say.”