Trans children ‘will lose any hope of happiness’ under school gender guidance

Trans and non-binary young children have ‘no hope of an education’ under new government guidance, campaigners say.

Many trans children socially transition, such as taking on new names, pronouns, haircuts and uniforms, to better embrace their gender identity.

But new advice published yesterday says this needs to be agreed by the school and parents must be involved in the ‘majority’ of cases.

Social transition should only happen ‘very rarely’ in primary schools, stressing that decisions ‘may not be the same as a child’s wishes’.

This is a far cry from a 2023 draft produced under the Conservatives, which said youngsters should not be able to use different pronouns.

What else does the draft gender guidance say?

Teachers are asked by the Department of Education to ‘keep in mind’ that girls can play with trucks and boys may dress in ‘feminine’ clothes.

But trans pupils will not be allowed to access the school toilet, changing room or accommodation on a trip that aligns with their gender identity.

This is to align with last year’s Supreme Court ruling that said that the word ‘woman’ refers to biological sex under anti-discrimination law.

When a child says they want to be referred to by a different name or pronoun, school officials are ‘expected’ to involve parents and guardians.

It adds: ‘However, in the rare circumstances where involving parents or carers would constitute a greater risk to the child than not involving them, the school or college should involve their Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to determine what action is needed to safeguard the child, before the parents are contacted or any decisions are taken.’

The sex a student is assigned at birth will also be ‘accurately’ recorded by the school, so teachers can ‘take appropriate action where needed’.

Teachers must be aware of trans youth who may socially transition ‘in stealth’, meaning the school is unaware of their sex.

The guidance makes repeated references to the Cass Review, an independent inquiry into the UK’s youth gender service by Dr Hilary Cass.

Dr Cass said the evidence around trans youth healthcare – which includes since-banned puberty blockers – is ‘remarkably weak’.

As the paediatrician drew a similar conclusion on social transition, the guidance states schools must ‘take a very careful approach’ to it.

‘Maintaining flexibility and keeping children’s options open will help to avoid a child feeling they are under pressure to commit to a potentially irrevocable pathway when they are young,’ it says.

This is why school administrators must also support children who wish to ‘detransition’, those who stop or reverse their gender transitions.

Gender school guidance ‘will cause trans youth extreme harm’

LGBTQ+ campaigners expressed unease about the draft guidance.

Cal Horton, an academic who studies the safety of trans young people, says the draft guidance ‘will cause extreme harm’ to trans youth.

The research fellow at the Oxford Brookes Business School said: ‘Study after study have shown that trans children need policies that are the exact opposite of what this government is enforcing.

‘Trans children need to be supported and respected in order to be safe at school, in order to access their right to education, in order to enjoy their childhood.

‘Instead, we are seeing a complete ban on access to appropriate toilets, PE, accommodation on school trips, a complete erosion of their rights.’

‘It will lead to children avoiding the bathroom, avoiding exercise, missing out on school trips, dropping out of school, losing any hope of education, equality, friendship, happiness.’

A study in 2022 found that around 95.5% of young children who socially transition still identify as that expressed gender five years later.

While researchers have found that trans youth referred to by their chosen name experience lower rates of negative mental health conditions.

Cleo Madeleine, of the charity Gendered Intelligence, said the advice will help steer teachers who have been asking how to support trans pupils.

‘It’s positive to see guidance that begins from a place of support, not exclusion, and that takes a safeguarding-first approach to disclosing a child’s trans identity,’ Madeleine said.

She stressed that the published guidance isn’t legally binding – it’s under consultation until April and will only become law in September.

‘However, schools cannot meaningfully include trans pupils and protect them from discrimination while they continue to be barred from basic amenities like toilets and PE facilities,’ Madeleine added.

‘It’s up to the government to make a clear commitment to trans equality across the board – this is just a start.’

Stonewall said that any statutory guidance for schools needs to keep the well-being of young people ‘at its heart’.

‘Many in the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people, are increasingly feeling their voices are not heard,’ the chatity said.

‘Young people who are questioning their gender should feel safe and supported at school; and the final statutory guidance, through the consultation, needs to listen to, and reflect their experiences.’

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