Schools will allow pupils to ‘socially transition’ their gender with caution, but must keep girls’ toilets female-only according to new trans guidance.
The long-awaited document, which was originally drafted by the Tories in 2023, has been on hold for more than two years.
Labour has been grappling with how to advise heads on dealing with the trans question as the issue has divided the party.
According to the new guidance, pupils will still be allowed to ‘socially transition’ but any requests will be treated ‘with caution’.
This afternoon, campaigners said this will encourage ‘a dangerous fairy tale’ and put pupils at risk.
The Department for Education (DfE) guidance, which is subject to consultation, is for dealing with gender-questioning children in schools.
It also says schools must maintain single-sex spaces, and there should be no mixed toilets for children over eight years old or mixed-sex sleeping arrangements on trips.
A child’s birth sex must be recorded in school and college records, the guidance will say.
Schools will be allowed to ‘socially transition’ their gender with caution, but must keep girls’ toilets female-only according to new trans guidance (pictured: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson)
Schools should seek parents’ views unless there is any reason not to, as well as always considering any clinical advice families have received.
The DfE said the new guidance is informed by the recommendations of the Cass Review and responses to a consultation on the previous draft guidance.
The gender-questioning guidance will be embedded into the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, which schools have to follow and is regularly reviewed.
Today, Maya Forstater, the chief executive of Sex Matters, told the Telegraph: ‘Schools are still being left with the idea that they can facilitate “social transition” – which remains undefined – and that they should negotiate this on a case-by-case basis.
‘They are being encouraged to think that children have a ‘birth sex’ as well as some other concept of sex. This has no basis in law or reality, and undermines safeguarding.
‘It should be clear by now that allowing children and parents to think that a child who starts their education as a girl can graduate as a boy or vice versa is a dangerous fairy tale.’
However, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT union, said: ‘It is important to remember that individual children and young people are at the heart of this, and schools remain focused on ensuring that every child in their care is safe and treated with compassion and humanity,’
A consultation on the updates to the safeguarding guidance will be held for 10 weeks.
In a written statement, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said other proposed changes will include advice on mobile phone use, child sexual abuse, misogyny, grooming gangs and serious violence.
Mrs Phillipson said: ‘Parents send their children to school and college trusting that they’ll be protected. Teachers work tirelessly to keep them safe. That’s not negotiable, and it’s not a political football.’
