DfE transgender guidance to be published

The government is planning to publish transgender guidance to support schools to deal with sensitive issues later in the spring.

The DfE had been due to publish draft guidance before the end of this year to help schools that are struggling with questions over practical solutions to transgender issues.

The DfE is now in the process of finalising the guidelines for the consultation of the draft guidance. It is reported that the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan has recognised the need for this guidance to be available to schools as soon as possible but also acknowledged the need to “get the guidance right” on a sensitive and complex topic.

Earlier in the year Baroness Barran, parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Education told the House of Lords:

“My Lords, we recognise that issues relating to sex and gender can be complex and sensitive for schools to navigate. That is why we are developing guidance to support schools in relation to transgender pupils. It is important that we are able to consider a wide range of views to get this guidance right, so we have committed to holding a public consultation on the draft guidance prior to publication. “