UK parents outraged by gender identity question for toddlers

Primary school application forms across the UK have been asking parents to declare the ‘gender identity’ of their toddlers.

Parents can select “man/boy/male” or “woman/girl/female” for their child, or if the child would “prefer to self describe”, space is given for a more detailed description.

The application form is supplied by an external provider, and is used by over 100 local authorities across the UK. In 2021, it was used for more than 550,000 school applications.

‘Totally inappropriate’

A mother in Buckinghamshire, applying for a primary school for her son, stated: “It has no place on the form with regard to three-year-olds on any level.”

Martin Tett, head of Buckinghamshire Council, upon learning of the issue said: “I immediately investigated as the council does not want or need a question about gender identity on our school admissions form.”

He added: “It is totally inappropriate to ask this question of young children and I have instructed that it is removed as swiftly as possible.”

‘Ludicrous’

Caroline Ffiske from Conservatives for Women called the question “staggering and ridiculous” and said: “We must call out the public authorities who enable this, highlighting that they are actively promoting an ideology that results in irreversible harm for vulnerable children and adults.”

Maya Forstater, Chief Executive of woman’s rights charity Sex Matters, called for the question to be deleted and explained: “Projecting the adult beliefs and concepts of transactivism onto children is not only ludicrous but also harmful.”

She said: “Many parents will have been shocked by this question and will be concerned about the nonsense that may be taught to their child at school based on the admissions form alone.”

‘Gender-neutral’ teachers

In Scotland, at least 86 teachers and teaching support staff are using the gender-neutral title ‘Mx,’ with 13 working in primary schools.

Parent Watch Scotland warned that these gender-neutral titles are causing primary school children confusion.

One mother voiced her concerns to one of the schools, saying: “we are telling small children something that is false – you get to choose your gender – and we are forcing a very dangerous ideology onto very young children, with no discussion with parents”.