Teachers facing attacks from parents over trans issues

Scott Lyons, district secretary of the National Education Union, said parents were launching "social media attacks" on schools, sometimes based on inaccurate accounts from their children.

He made the remarks as pleaded for the government to speed up the publication of long-awaiting guidance on how schools should approach transgender issues.

The Department for Education had promised this year that official guidelines would be published during the summer term.

But the government has now announced these are now not expected to arrive until later this year.

It comes amid growing concerns over the way schools deal with trans issues and gender ideology - the belief that gender identity can replace sex.

DISPUTED SUBJECT

One Norfolk school, Swanton Morley Primary, near Dereham, has recently come under fire from parents over sex education lessons for seven-year-olds mentioning 'pangender people'.

The school has been accused of using teaching materials "based on highly contentious and contested views that put great emphasis on emotion and belief rather than biological reality". It says it investigated a complaint which was not upheld.

Other schools in the region have also been questioned over the growing proportion of gender-neutral toilets.

Critics say the facilities raise safeguarding and privacy issues for girls and effectively reduce the amount of female-only spaces in schools.

GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES

Some details of the proposed trans guidelines were leaked earlier this year and were the subject of intense debate.

It was reported that schools would be told to immediately inform parents if any pupils had confidentially shared thoughts questioning their gender.

The proposals proved highly divisive, with speculation that some aspects could even be unlawful.

Supporters of the proposals say parents should be involved in any matter concerning their child.

However, critics have raised safeguarding concerns that some youngsters who confide in their schools may be exposed to dangerous home lives if they are 'outed' to their parents.

But the message from school leaders is simple: give us clarity.

Scott Lyons, district secretary of the National Education Union in Norfolk (Image: Denise Bradley)

CALL FOR CLARITY

Scott Lyons, district secretary of the National Education Union, said firm guidelines were needed "sooner, rather than later".

He said: "Whenever you teach anything this sensitive or provocative, a big worry for teachers is how parents will respond and in the last few years we have seen a real increase in parental attacks.

"As teachers, we are desperate for clear guidance on what we can and can't say as children will often go home, report and sometimes misreport what they've been told to their parents who then launch attacks on social media.

"Clear guidance will then give schools an immediate response to parents who do complain.

"There is always a danger that if teachers are left to fill in the gaps in their knowledge elsewhere they may find things that create more problems.

"As a union, we want to see our members trained, supported and protected, so we need this guidance sooner rather than later."

Geoff Barton, of the ASCL (Image: Archant)

Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "We’ve been telling the government that schools and colleges need clear guidance on provision for transgender and gender-questioning pupils for the past five years, so it is frustrating that it has now got to the point of producing something but appears to be locked in an internal political squabble which is causing a further delay.

"At present, schools have to navigate this complex and sensitive subject entirely on their own.

"Clear, practical guidance on this matter is important as long as it is genuinely supportive to schools and pupils and does not add to the existing and onerous expectations on schools.

"It is reported the delays are largely centred around guidance from the attorney general for England and Wales that some parts may prove unlawful.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan. Picture: UK Parliament

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said: "It is vital that the guidance we publish gives clarity for schools and colleges and reassurance for parents.

"We have made the 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.

"They shout prioritise safeguarding by meeting their existing legal duties to protect single-sex spaces and maintain safety and fairness in single-sex sport."