Transgender guidance for schools must not “stay out in the ether” for years on end, the equality watchdog has warned the government.
While recognising the importance of consultation on the guidance, Baroness Falkner, who chairs the Equality and Human Rights Commission, stressed the need for a “speedy resolution”, given the anxiety among parents and pupils affected.
Speaking in Parliament, education minister Baroness Barran denied “foot-dragging” in the Department for Education on the sensitive issue, and highlighted the necessity of considering a wide range of views in order to get the guidance right.
Responding to separate concerns, the Conservative frontbencher also insisted there was “no block” on a letter being sent to schools instructing them to show parents who requested it the sex education material being taught to pupils.
There have been concerns that some providers have actively sought to prevent access to teaching resources due to commercial confidentiality.
Lady Barran said: “The department remains committed to sending the letter.
“There is no block to the letter going and it will be sent shortly.”
Call for ‘speedy’ publication of schools’ transgender guidance
Responding to a question in Westminster on when schools would be provided with transgender guidance, the minister said: “We recognise that issues relating to sex and gender can be complex and sensitive for schools to navigate, which is why we are developing guidance to support schools in relation to transgender pupils.
“It is important to consider a wide range of views in order to get this guidance right. So we have committed to holding a public consultation on the draft guidance prior to publication.”
Pressing the minister, Lady Falkner, an independent crossbencher, said: “I completely endorse her department’s intention to consult widely on this matter. It’s important that they do so.
“But she’ll also be aware that this matter has been tasked to her department since 2021. Parents, who are incredibly anxious, as well as children who are affected by it, really do need her department to come to a speedy resolution of this matter.
“It cannot be right to let it stay out there in the ether year after year after year.”
Lady Barran said: “By my calculations, we are only just a year after and a bit, if it’s been since 2021.”
The issue was raised in the House of Lords by Conservative peer Lord Farmer, who said: “Schools need this guidance now. There’s much confusion in schools and I think children are suffering and teachers and headteachers are struggling.”
Conservative peer Baroness Meyer said: “Isn’t imposing the use of preferred pronouns on teachers and on pupils an attack on freedom of speech?”
Lady Barran said: “I don’t think it’s helpful to generalise and talk about imposition of pronouns. We will be addressing these issues in our guidance. We will be drawing on the widest range of views to inform that guidance.”
Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman said: “Would [Lady Barran] acknowledge that lack of certainty over timing of this is furthering anxiety and concern? Notwithstanding what she has said, correctly, about the need for consultation, the sooner we can get this guidance published and out to schools the better.”
Lady Barran said: “I hope I didn’t give a sense of foot-dragging on the part of the department. What I wanted to share was a sense of how important we see this guidance and how seriously we are taking it.”
Conservative former MEP Baroness Foster of Oxton said: “There is evidence that children as young as 7 are being asked whether they are male, female, bisexual or trans in schools.
“Parents appear to have no say in these matters. So would the minister agree that situation cannot continue and this is now, in my view, bordering on child abuse.
“Would she please look into this matter with the utmost urgency and report back as soon as possible?”
Lady Barran said: “What would be really helpful is, if she or any member of the House has specific examples like this, to share it with the department so we are able to respond.”
