Teachers and parents are 'crying out' for clarity on trans issues

Teachers and parents are ‘crying out’ for clarity on trans issues in schools, Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza warns

• Sunak promised in March the plan would be published before summer holiday
• Advice was delayed amid legal wrangling over teachers using pupils’ pronouns

Teachers and parents are ‘crying out’ for school trans guidance to give ‘clarity’, the Children’s Commissioner has warned.

Dame Rachel de Souza said the long-awaited protocols must ensure there is a fairness and consistency into how gender self-identification is handled.

Rishi Sunak promised parents in March that the long-awaited plan would be published before schools broke up for the summer.

But the advice was understood to be pushed back amid last-minute legal wrangling over whether teachers must use pupils’ preferred pronouns.

Downing Street said last week that ‘no decisions have been taken’ and that ‘more information is needed about the long-term implications of a child acting as though they are the opposite sex’.

Dame Rachel de Souza said the long-awaited protocols must ensure there is a fairness and consistency into how gender self-identification is handled

Parents, teachers and campaigners spoke of their frustration about the delays, saying it leaves schools in a difficult position.

Dame Rachel said: ‘First we need to take real care with safeguarding – that has to come first. Consistency is so important, and also clarity.

‘There are 23,000 schools. We can’t have everyone doing different things, it’s got to be fair for all children.

‘As Children’s Commissioner, that’s the perspective that I come from. So I absolutely need that guidance out to children, families and schools as soon as possible, for clarity, for fairness and for good safeguarding.’

The delay comes amid a Cabinet row focusing on the extent to which schools will be required to recognise pupils who want to ‘socially transition’ to a new gender without medical involvement.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has previously said that children should be allowed to use the pronouns of their choice in school, provided they have parental consent.

But the move is said to be opposed by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, who has been lobbying Mr Sunak to toughen up the Government’s stance.

Ministers have agreed that trans pupils should not be allowed to use the toilets of their adopted gender or take part in single sex sports.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has previously said that children should be allowed to use the pronouns of their choice in school, provided they have parental consent

Parents, teachers and campaigners spoke of their frustration about the delays, saying it leaves schools in a difficult position (Stock Photo)

Asked what she feels the guidance should contain, Dame Rachel said: ‘As a headteacher of many years, in schools for 32 years, I’ve worked with children and families with a number of cases around the trans issue, and what you try to do is your pastoral best and your care for any individual child.

‘But I think now, where the situation is, we need absolute clear guidance and that’s what I want to see.’

A government spokesman said: ‘The Education Secretary is working closely with the minister for women and equalities to provide guidance to schools and colleges.

‘Given the complexity and sensitivity of the issue, we’re taking the time to make sure any guidance we provide is as clear as possible.

‘We’ve been repeatedly clear about the importance of biological sex and we advise that schools and colleges proceed with caution – prioritising the safeguarding and wellbeing of all children and involving parents in decisions relating to their child.’

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