'Vast majority' of parents should be told 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."

"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"."

New legally-binding guidance for English schools requires parental involvement in the vast majority of cases when a child questions their gender. Schools must not initiate social transitioning—changes of name, pronoun, or clothes—and should assess other forms of support. Full social transitioning in primary schools should be very rare. The guidance distinguishes between a child's wishes and their best interests and notes most children who explore gender do not fully transition as adults. A 2024 review of under-18 gender care found weak evidence for medical interventions and limited research. The guidance aims to give schools legal clarity and promote parental involvement.

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