'Vast majority' of parents should be involved if children question their gender, schools told

Parents should be involved in the "vast majority" of cases where a child questions their gender, according to new government guidance for all English schools.

The legally-binding advice says schools should not initiate steps towards social transitioning - when pupils change their name, pronoun or clothes to reflect their gender identity - and should instead consider carefully what other support a child might need.

In primary schools in particular, full social transitioning should only happen "very rarely", it says.

The guidance has been backed by the author of the landmark Cass Review, Dr Hilary Cass, who said the guidance was "a huge step in the right direction".

Her review of gender care services for under-18s, published in 2024, was commissioned by NHS England after it saw a sharp rise in referrals for patients questioning their gender.

Her report said the evidence around medical interventions in gender care was "remarkably weak", and there was a lack of research available.

The guidance also says there are "no exceptions" for single-sex facilities at schools and colleges, including toilets and changing rooms, with single-sex sports also protected.

But schools have been given some flexibility over how they deal with issues such as children's names and uniforms.

The BBC understands single-sex schools will continue to follow the current admissions code, which allows them to admit pupils only on the basis of their biological sex.

Cass said the guidance was "practical and reflects the recommendations of my review, giving schools much-needed clarity on their legal duties so they can support children with confidence".

Overall, the new guidance also makes a clear distinction between a child's wishes, and what might be in their best interests.

There is a reminder that while some children explore different gender identities, most do not go on as adults to fully transition to a different gender from their biological sex.

"What comes across quite strongly in the guidance is that proceeding with a social transition is going to be very much the exception, rather than the rule," Cass told the BBC.

She emphasised the importance of involving parents wherever possible, saying "children don't thrive well when there are secrets between them and their parents".

"Too many times during my review I heard about schools having socially transitioned young people without involving parents, and parents were in possession of all sorts of knowledge about what's going on that the school just wouldn't know about," she said.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the new guidance would deliver "pragmatic support for teachers, reassurance for parents, and above all, the safety and wellbeing of children and young people".

Maya Forstater, CEO of Sex Matters, welcomed the news of the guidance, but criticised its content around social transition.

"Schools are still being left with the idea that they can facilitate 'social transition' – which remains undefined – and that they should negotiate this on a case-by-case basis," she said.

"They are being encouraged to think that children have a 'birth sex' as well as some other concept of sex. This has no basis in law or reality, and undermines safeguarding."

A spokesperson for the charity Stonewall said it would be reviewing the guidance carefully, and the final statutory guidance should listen to and reflect the experiences of young people who are questioning their gender.

"Many in the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people, are increasingly feeling their voices are not heard," they added.

The new advice around children questioning their gender has been included in an update to existing statutory guidance for schools on how to keep children safe.

It was first promised in 2018 in England.

The long delay has left head teachers navigating one of the most contested social issues on their own.

Some have paid for legal advice, while others have taken mitigating steps such as introducing gender-neutral toilets.

Schools have been reacting to the news.

Tomas Thurogood-Hyde, director of corporate services at Astrea Academy Trust, said: "The language on single-sex spaces and the avoidance of schools acting alone is clear.

"This should give parents confidence in there being a more uniform approach across England, rather than a postcode lottery."

Heather Fowler, head of safeguarding at Endeavour Learning Trust, said: "The safety and wellbeing of every child have always been, and will always remain, at the heart of our work. This updated guidance does not change our approach.

"We have consistently worked in partnership with families to ensure decisions are made carefully, thoughtfully and in the best interests of each individual child."

Thursday's update has been roundly welcomed by head teachers' unions.

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said schools had done a "very good job" dealing with the issue during an "often-polarised public debate" in recent years.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the guidance would address the need for "greater clarity about how schools should manage this sensitive issue and support their pupils".

In December 2023, the previous Conservative government had published draft guidance for consultation, which took a harder stance on some issues, including banning the use of alternate pronouns in primary school.

But that consultation was overtaken by the calling of a general election in May 2024, which ultimately led to a change of government.

A new consultation on Thursday's updated guidance is due to run for 10 weeks.

Devolved governments across the rest of the UK have previously provided their own gender guidance for schools, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on biological sex in 2025.

In Scotland, ministers said facilities must be available on the basis of biological sex, but schools could also provide gender-neutral toilets.

In Northern Ireland, guidance on supporting transgender pupils was withdrawn from the Education Authority's website in September 2025.

Education Minister Paul Givan had said he had asked officials to consider the implications of the Supreme Court decision and to seek legal advice.

In Wales, schools were told in 2023 to expect guidance on supporting transgender pupils the next academic year. An update to the Welsh government's LGBTQ+ action plan, published in January, says officials are working to ensure guidance is ready for a new government following May's Senedd election.