New rules will force teachers to tell parents if children question their gender

Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, says the move will keep parents in the loop with what is ‘going on with their children’ at school

Teachers will soon be forced to tell parents if their children question their gender at school.

Under new guidance – which is expected to be published in draft form for consultation this week – school staff will be encouraged to pass the information on to mums and dads, even if the youngster involved does not want them to know.

Government minister Kemi Badenoch says the new rules – which affect schools in England – will ensure parents know 'what's going on with their children'.

• Parents horror as teacher leaves students' passports 200 miles away from ferry port
• Schoolboy left alone overnight on school trip
• All teacher strikes 'immediately suspended'

Children should 'undergo a period of reflection'

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, the equalities minister said that school heads will be told that families must be consulted if a pupil wants to be known by another name, or wear a different type of school uniform.

According to the Guardian, this could also mean that schools would not be allowed to use a student's preferred pronouns unless their parents had given their consent.

Reports also suggest that the guidance will advise teaching staff that any youngster who wants to self-identify as a different gender at school should first undergo a 'period of reflection'.

'Gender distress'

Kemi Badenoch told Laura Kuenssberg: 'We are producing guidance for schools to know how to deal with children who are experiencing gender distress.'

Kemi Badenoch MP

'A lot of confusion about the law'

'There’s quite a lot of confusion about what the law says and it is important that parents are aware of what’s going on with their children and what’s happening to them at school, so what we’re doing is making sure we have robust guidance that’s going to be able to stand up to scrutiny.

'That will be coming shortly.'

When Kemi Badenoch was asked if this could result in trans children feeling school staff were 'outing' them to their families, she replied that parents 'have a right to know what's happening.'

Clues on the guidance for schools on how govt plans to support trans pupils and parents coming soon.... https://t.co/ontIJe5poF

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) July 16, 2023

'Not a trivial thing'

She said: 'The fact is that this is not a trivial thing; this is very different from sexual orientation and what is right is that parents know what is going on with their children at school.'

She added that the new guidance will ensure 'everyone is getting the balance right'.

Schools will now get more money for pupils than ever before.

Every pupil in England is set to benefit.

🧑‍🏫 More staff
📕 Better classroom materials
🏫 School running costs covered

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 17, 2023

Other issues surrounding trans children

Schools are reported to have faced increasing numbers of students questioning their gender in recent years, and teachers are said to have been asking for more clarity on how they should support trans pupils in the classroom.

The BBC reports that the guidance may also look at other issues around trans youngsters, such as whether single-sex schools are legally obliged to allow transgender pupils.

According to the Mail, the guidance will also state that even when children have their parents' consent to use a different name or pronouns, or wear a different uniform, they will not be able to use lavatories of the opposite sex.

The paper claims that those schools which have the appropriate facilities will provide single-occupancy toilets that can be locked from the inside.

The proposed new guidance is due to be published before Parliament breaks for summer recess On July 21, and will be sent to all school leaders for feedback.

It is thought it will then be finalised and sent to schools by the end of the year.

Related stories

The 5 questions every parent has about school trips

CHAT: talk all things education on our friendly forums

Proposals to scrap the 6 week summer break leave parents divided