The debate over how schools handle gender identity issues has been heating up again.
At the heart of the controversy is whether radical transgender ideology should be taught as fact in classrooms or if schools should follow clearer, stricter rules on the subject.
Recently, the Conservative Party has announced plans to introduce a new law that could finally make certain gender guidance mandatory in schools — something that has been uncertain for years.
What Is the Gender-Questioning Children Guidance?
Back in 2023, the government released what’s officially called the “Gender-Questioning Children Guidance.”
This set of rules says, among other things, that pupils assigned male at birth should not use girls’ toilets, and schools must involve parents if a child wants to socially transition to the opposite gender.
It also states that schools should not teach gender identity as an unquestionable fact.
However, the problem was this guidance was originally non-statutory — meaning schools didn’t have to follow it.
When the Conservatives lost power last year, Labour put the guidance under review, creating confusion about how schools should proceed.
As a result, some school leaders have continued inviting trans activist groups to deliver lessons on gender ideology, sometimes to children as young as nine.
Tory Plans to Make Guidance Law
Now, the Conservatives are stepping in with an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently moving through the House of Lords.
This amendment aims to make the 2023 guidance legally binding.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott criticized the Education Secretary, saying the guidance has been ignored for almost a year despite schools wanting clarity and children needing protection.
Trott emphasized, “There is no justifiable reason for delay. Schools want clarity and children need safeguarding.”
The amendment would require schools by law to follow the guidance once the Bill becomes law.
Supreme Court Ruling Adds Pressure
Adding fuel to the fire, a Supreme Court judgment in May ruled that the term “woman” is defined by biology, a decision some see as reinforcing the importance of biological sex in schools and society.
This ruling has intensified calls for the government to act swiftly.
Mrs. Trott said, “The time for delay is over. It has been 75 days since the Supreme Court reminded us that biological sex matters.”
Labour Pushback and Political Tensions
Labour sources pushed back strongly, accusing the Tories of having “some nerve” given their own previous mishandling of the guidance.
Labour insists they are working carefully, including reviewing the findings from the Cass Review, to make sure children’s wellbeing is protected properly.
Activist Groups Still Active in Schools
Meanwhile, some Labour MPs have been seen supporting groups like Pop’n’Olly, which promotes gender ideology to very young children.
Pop’n’Olly offers resources such as a video called “Gender Explained for Kids,” designed for families and schools.
The group explains gender as something that may match one’s assigned sex but can also be a personal discovery that changes over time, even describing gender as a “spectrum.”
Pop’n’Olly and similar groups reportedly still visit primary schools regularly, teaching children as young as nine about gender identity.
This ongoing involvement is partly due to the government’s unclear position, which has left schools unsure about what guidance to follow.
Teachers and Unions Resist the Guidance
The National Education Union (NEU), a large teachers’ union, has actively opposed the guidance, arguing it is harmful and that parents should not be automatically informed if a child wants to socially transition.
Some teachers shared positive experiences where young pupils transitioned without issues, saying the community adapted well to pronoun changes.
During union debates, some described the guidance as “regressive trash,” opposing the idea that early, cautious transitions should be discouraged.
Why Was the Guidance Created?
Originally, the guidance was developed to help schools that were struggling with how to respond to requests from children to change gender.
Many schools felt they were legally required to accommodate such changes under equality laws, but the guidance clarified that wasn’t necessarily the case.
Government and Group Responses
A Department for Education spokesperson said the Education Secretary is committed to putting children’s wellbeing first and is carefully considering responses to consultations before deciding on the next steps.
Pop’n’Olly’s representatives expressed pride in their work supporting diversity and inclusion in schools, claiming they follow current legislation and base their work on research.
What’s Next?
The controversy is unlikely to die down soon.
The Prime Minister recently called on hospitals and government departments to implement the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman without delay.
Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer also insisted that any official guidance must align with the court’s decision, criticizing reports that some civil servants were ignoring the ruling.
With Parliament still debating the new legislation, and activists, unions, and politicians all pushing their agendas, the future of how gender identity is addressed in schools remains a hot topic — one that will affect pupils, parents, and teachers for years to come.