TEACHERS must be “extremely cautious” about letting kids identify as another gender, the Education Secretary warned today.
Gillian Keegan confirmed the long-awaited trans guidance has been delayed – but sent a stern edict to schools.
She said the heads must always involve the pupil’s parents in any decision to act as though they are the opposite sex.
Rishi Sunak had promised the guidance this week but was forced to kick it back following last-minute legal wrangling.
Government lawyers advised some of the tougher measures – like a ban on social transitioning – would require a law change.
Ms Keegan today said: “In the meantime, schools and colleges should proceed with extreme caution.
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“They should always involve parents in decisions relating to their child, and should not agree to any changes that they are not absolutely confident are in the best interests of that child and their peers.
“They should prioritise safeguarding by meeting their existing legal duties to protect single sex spaces and maintain safety and fairness in single sex sport.”
Refusing to acknowledge the legal row, she said ministers wanted “more time” to consult with parents and teachers.
In a written statement to MPs, Ms Keegan said: “We have always said that this is about safety for children. It is a difficult and sensitive area and more information is needed about the long-term implications of a child to act as though they are the opposite sex.
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“We also need to take care to understand how such actions affect other children in the school or college. These decisions must not be taken lightly or in haste.”
Ministers have been working on the long-awaited guidance for months but recently came under intense pressure from Tory MPs to be more hardline.
Attorney General Victoria Prentis said some of these stronger proposals would only be possible if the law was changed because they clash with the Equalities Act, which enshrines gender reassignment as a protected characteristic.
They included a blanket ban on pupils socially transitioning, or forcing kids to get a doctor’s letter if they wanted to switch gender.
Before being hardened, the original draft guidance would allow children to identify as the opposite gender with their parents' permission.
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