The final guidance on transgender issues for schools in the United Kingdom, issued by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, will permit children as young as five to socially transition, a provision that has drawn criticism from campaigners who fear it will embolden parents seeking to transition their children. The document, which is statutory, faced controversy upon its initial release in February for allowing this practice.
Sex Matters, a sex-based rights group, has voiced strong objections to the government's decision to retain this aspect of the guidance following a public consultation. Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, stated that the allowance for social transition, even in primary schools, could lead to pressure from parents who want their child treated as an exception to general school rules designed to safeguard all children. Forstater argued that identifying as transgender should always be recognized as a potential safeguarding risk, citing concerns about harmful interventions like breast-binding and unregulated hormone prescriptions. She added that some schools might view discussions about gender as opportunities for celebration rather than signs of a child's potential well-being risks.
Despite these concerns, Forstater acknowledged that the guidance, titled 'Keeping Children Safe in Education,' represents a step forward after what she described as 15 years of "unbridled trans activism in schools." The final version largely retains original elements, including a prohibition on children using changing rooms or toilets designated for the opposite sex. Schools will also be barred from recording a child's sex as different from their biological sex, and teachers will not be permitted to initiate a pupil's transition.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott welcomed the confirmation that single-sex spaces must remain single-sex and that school records must accurately reflect a child's sex. She criticized the previous Labour stance for opening the door to social transition for very young children, arguing that encouraging social transition could set children on a path toward irreversible harm.
The guidance was initially drafted by the Conservative party but was paused when Labour came to power in 2024. When it was published earlier this year, some elements were perceived as having been softened. Earlier proposals from then-Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had prohibited primary schools from changing pupils' pronouns. Labour's guidance, however, removed this ban, instead suggesting that children as young as five could be allowed 'full social transition' in rare circumstances.
This updated guidance has received backing from Dr. Hilary Cass, who led an independent review of NHS gender identity services for children. That review ultimately led to a ban on puberty blockers for individuals under 18. The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.