The Government has thanked The Christian Institute for raising the “important matter” of protecting children from radical gender ideology in schools.
Education Minister Stephen Morgan MP welcomed a CI-coordinated letter urging the Government to introduce draft guidance that safeguards pupils from ideologically driven teaching on gender and sex.
The letter, signed by over 100 teachers, governors and others working in education, called for the implementation of draft guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), and Gender Questioning Children, both published before the General Election.
‘Damaging practices’
Mr Morgan confirmed that both drafts are still under review, but assured the Institute that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson had indicated that “children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of this guidance”.
He reported that the Government will “discuss with stakeholders and consider the relevant evidence, including the Cass Review which has since been published, before setting out next steps”.
Institute Head of Education John Denning cautiously welcomed the Government’s response and said it indicates that “the law forbids schools from having a blanket policy to affirm children’s social transition”.
But he warned: “For too long, education policy in this area has been shaped by activists, based on ideology, not evidence, and this has risked the welfare of children. We need the Government to act soon, and to act decisively to bring an end to these damaging practices in our schools and to reject the demands of trans activism.”
Cass Review
The letter of concern, sent to the Education Secretary in September, highlighted that the Cass Review “has considerably strengthened the case” for a cautious approach to socially transitioning pupils in schools.
It said the guidance on ‘Gender Questioning Children’ was needed, as some schools are still operating “a policy of automatic ‘affirmation’” and many teachers and schools “are uncertain and disempowered in the absence of this guidance”.
In December 2023, after months of delays, draft guidance for schools on ‘Gender Questioning Children’ was published for consultation, setting out how schools should respond to children who identify as transgender.
It recommended a cautious approach, and though condemned by trans activist groups at the time, has since been boosted by the findings of the Cass Report.
RSHE
In May, refreshed guidance on the teaching of Relationships, Sex and Health Education was published for consultation. It forbids schools from promoting transgender ideology – the idea that people have a gender identity that can differ from their sex ‘assigned at birth’.
The guidance also restricts explicit teaching about sexual acts in primary schools, other than in exceptional circumstances. This consultation closed just after the General Election. Final guidance has not been made available in time for the new school year.
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