transgender schools’ guidance: how to respond

How to respond to the UK Department for Education’s draft guidance for teachers regarding transgender and gender nonconforming students in schools.

The UK Department for Education has published a guide for teachers about transgender and gender nonconforming students in schools.

Right now, it is a draft and the guidance is open for public consultation. This means you can have your say.

Anyone can respond, whether you are an individual or an organisation.

what does the transgender school’s guidance currently say?

The full guidance can be found on the government website. The advice could seem insensitive so if you are directly affected by this, read with caution.

The current guidance takes a parent-led approach. It advises teachers and schools that:

• If a child asks to transition, teachers should discuss the child’s request with their parents or guardian.
• This includes what the guidance refers to as socially transitioning, e.g. changing names, pronouns, wearing uniforms and using facilities in alignment with their gender identity.
• If a child asks to transition teachers should also consider whether it will have an impact on the wider school.
• Children and teachers shouldn’t be made to use preferred pronouns.
• Where schools have gendered dress codes, the guidance recommends trans students wear the uniform they were “assigned at birth”

how can I respond?

Step 1: read the full guidance document.

Step 2: respond to the consultation.

what is involved in responding to the consultation?

To respond to the consultation, you will need to fill out a form online. The form includes 42 questions. Some of these questions are about who you are, and some are about the guidance itself.

is there a deadline?

Yes, the consultation closes on 12 March 2024. You will not be able to respond past this date.

akt’s tips for filling out a response

• Try not to copy and paste from existing advice. Make your response individual, using your own words.
• Include examples to back up your response.
• Share your personal experiences if it is appropriate and if you are comfortable doing so.

links to other useful sites:

Mermaids have a short explainer page that has a summary of the draft guidance. You can find this here.

Head to Stonewall for their step-by-step guide (which includes what to do if you have 5, 15 or 30 minutes to respond). You can find their guide here.