Teachers In England Don’t Have To Address Students By Their Chosen Pronouns Under New Government Guidance

Teachers in England have been told they do not have to address students by their chosen pronouns under new government guidance.

Schools and colleges in England have been told there is “no general duty” to allow children to change their gender identity and they should take a “cautious approach” when considering social transition requests.

The draft document, released by the Department for Education, states that children, teachers or staff at schools in England should “not be required to adopt the use of preferred pronouns”.

On the “rare occasions” where a school or college agrees to a change of pronouns, no teacher or pupil should be compelled to use them.

Taking a “parents first” approach the draft suggests guardians should be informed at the earliest about if their child requests a different gender at school than the one assigned at birth. 

“Parents’ views must also be at the heart of all decisions made about their children,” said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

The draft also states that schools must have sex-separated toilets for students aged eight and over, that competitive sports continued to be separated for boys and girls, alongside sleeping arrangements like dormitories, tents and shared rooms and children questioning their gender should wear the same uniform standard as other children of their sex.