New Transgender Guidance for Schools Emphasises Caution and Single-Sex Spaces
The Department for Education has published long-awaited guidance for schools dealing with gender-questioning children, advising that pupils may socially transition their gender but with significant caution, while mandating that girls' toilets remain female-only spaces. This document, originally drafted by the Conservative government in 2023, has been delayed for over two years as Labour grappled with internal divisions on how to address the sensitive issue.
Key Provisions of the Guidance
According to the newly released guidance, schools must treat any requests from pupils to socially transition their gender with careful consideration and prudence. The document explicitly states that schools should maintain single-sex spaces, prohibiting mixed toilets for children over eight years old and ensuring separate sleeping arrangements on school trips. Additionally, schools are required to record a child's birth sex in official records, though they may facilitate social transition on a case-by-case basis after consulting parents and considering clinical advice.
The guidance emphasises that schools should seek parental views unless there are exceptional circumstances preventing this, and they must always take into account any professional medical advice received by families. These measures are designed to balance support for gender-questioning children with safeguarding concerns, particularly regarding the protection of single-sex facilities.
Reactions from Campaigners and Unions
Campaigners have expressed strong criticism of the guidance, arguing that it perpetuates harmful ideas about gender identity. Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, told the Telegraph that the guidance encourages schools to facilitate an undefined concept of social transition, which she described as having no basis in law or reality. Forstater warned that allowing children to believe they can change gender during their education is a dangerous fairy tale that undermines safeguarding principles.
In contrast, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT union, highlighted the importance of treating each child with compassion and humanity. He stressed that schools remain focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of every pupil, acknowledging the complex and sensitive nature of the issue. The guidance will be embedded into the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education framework, which all schools must follow and is subject to regular review.
Consultation and Broader Context
The new guidance is informed by the recommendations of the Cass Review and responses to previous consultations on draft versions. A ten-week consultation period will now be held to gather feedback on the proposed updates to safeguarding guidance. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised in a written statement that protecting children is non-negotiable and should not be treated as a political football.
Phillipson also announced that other proposed changes to school safeguarding guidance will include advice on mobile phone use, child sexual abuse, misogyny, grooming gangs, and serious violence. These updates reflect a broader effort to address multiple safeguarding challenges in educational settings, ensuring that schools provide a secure environment for all pupils while navigating complex social issues.
