The government has missed its own deadline to publish guidance for schools on policies for transgender pupils, sparking concerns school leaders and LGBTQ+ charities.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to publish guidance for schools before the school summer holidays begin next week (24 July), but Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has now confirmed that it will be delayed.
In a written statement, published 20 July, Keegan said: “We have made this decision to allow more time – to speak to teachers, parents, lawyers and other stakeholders – in order to ensure this guidance meets the high expectations that these groups rightly have for it.”
Keegan urged schools and colleges to “proceed with extreme caution” in the meantime, saying: “They should always involve parents in decisions relating to their child, and should not agree to any changes that they are not absolutely confident are in the best interests of that child and their peers.”
