Proposed guidance on gender questioning children in schools has been welcomed by the expert who led the review into NHS gender care, but she has admitted it cannot be 'completely foolproof'.
Baroness Hilary Cass said the Department for Education's draft, published shortly before Parliament's half-term break, represented a significant shift in approach. She noted that the previous default of not contacting parents had been reversed, reducing the likelihood of children being socially transitioned without their parents' knowledge.
Under the proposals, schools are advised to avoid rigid rules based on gender stereotypes and to take time to understand a child's feelings, while being alert to potential vulnerabilities such as bullying or mental health needs. Requests for social transition should be handled carefully, with discussions involving families and any relevant clinical advice.
The guidance states that single-sex toilets based on biological sex should be maintained for children over eight, and that some sports may require single-sex PE for safety. It also suggests that schools might consider using names instead of pronouns when supporting pupils.
However, the draft has faced criticism. Former Ofsted chief Baroness Amanda Spielman said it was 'not good enough', warning it could drive wedges between schools and parents, while Conservative MP Laura Trott argued it opened the door to children as young as four being referred to in a way that does not reflect their biological sex.
The consultation will run for ten weeks. Baroness Cass said it was impossible to make the guidance completely foolproof given the complexity, but welcomed its statutory status and the emphasis on making social transition for very young children 'vanishingly rare'.
