Schools will not have to accept a transgender child’s wish to be recognised as the opposite sex, according to new draft guidance released by Britain’s education ministry.
The new guidance for England, which will now enter a 12-week consultation period, also says that the parents of a trans child must be told if their son or daughter wants to change their name or pronouns at school.
Children under the age of 18 are already not legally or medically able to change gender in England. Here’s what you need to know.
Why is the guidance so significant? Trans children have been the subject of scrutiny and fierce debate in Britain. LGBTQ+ groups broadly say that young people’s identities should respected.