Education Secretary Gillian Keegan says schools should tell parents about transgender child.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said she disagrees with the policy of some schools to withhold knowledge from parents about their child's desire to change genders.
She was asked about her views in an interview with Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts.
The questions were given by Mumsnet users, including one secondary school teacher who said she had been told by the school's leadership to "affirm immediately" and use new names and pronouns if a pupil expresses a wish to identify as a different gender, but keep this information "secret" from the parents.
Asked whether she agreed with this policy, Ms Keegan said, "No I don't agree with that. I think transparency is really important. I think the parents' role is really important. Parents first and foremost are the main advocates for their children. They're the people who are closest to their children."
The Department for Education is in the process of drawing up new transgender guidance for schools amid increasing concern about affirmative approaches and the rights of parents and teachers, some of whom have lost their jobs for refusing to use preferred pronouns. CT.
