Bridget Phillipson's final trans guidance will embolden 'activist parents' who want their children to transition, campaigners fear

By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR Published: 19:27, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 19:33, 8 July 2026 Bridget Phillipson's final trans guidance for schools will embolden 'activist parents' who want their children to change gender, campaigners say. The document, which is statutory, caused outrage when it was published in February, because it allowed for children as young as five to 'socially transition' to the opposite gender at school. This has not changed in its final form, the Government confirmed today in a response to its consultation on the guidance. Tonight, Sex Matters, the sex-based rights group, hit out at ministers for refusing to change their stance. Chief executive Maya Forstater said: 'The suggestion that schools – including primary schools – might be able to accommodate 'social transition'… opens the door to pressure from activist parents who want their child treated as an exception to whole-school rules that exist to safeguard all children.' The document has also retained advice saying there is 'no reason' to tell parents about a pupil who has had feelings around gender, as long as they have not asked to actually transition. Parents should only be involved if there is a 'safeguarding risk' or the child requests to change gender at school, the guidance says. Ms Forstater said: 'Given the potential for harmful physical and medical interventions such as breast-binding and unregulated hormone prescriptions sourced online, trans identification should always be recognised as raising safeguarding risks. Bridget Phillipson's final trans guidance for schools will embolden 'activist parents' who want their children to change gender, campaigners say (pictured: Education Secretary Ms Phillipson) 'Too many schools and teachers will approach a conversation about gender as an opportunity to celebrate, rather than a sign that a child's wellbeing is at risk.' However, she said that overall the guidance, called 'Keeping Children Safe in Education', is a 'step forward' following '15 years of unbridled trans activism in schools'. Most of the original terms have been retained, including a ban on children using the toilets or changing rooms of the opposite sex. In addition, no school will be permitted to record any child as the opposite sex and teachers cannot initiate a pupil's transition. Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, said: 'I welcome today's clarity that single-sex spaces must be single sex, and that school records must accurately record every child's sex. 'Labour were wrong to open the door to children as young as five socially transitioning. 'Children cannot be kept safe if teachers are encouraged to socially transition them and set them on a pathway that can lead to irreversible harm. 'We will continue to fight for common sense. Referring to young children in a way that does not reflect their biological sex is wrong.' The document caused outrage when it was published in February, as it allowed for children as young as five to 'socially transition' to the opposite gender at school (pictured: Maya Forstater of Sex Matters) The guidance was originally drafted by the Tories, but was then put on hold when Labour came into power in 2024. When it was eventually published earlier this year, many parts had been watered down. Previous instructions drawn up by now Tory leader Kemi Badenoch forbade primary schools from changing pupils' pronouns. Labour's guidance scrapped the ban, instead saying those as young as five should be allowed 'full social transition' to the opposite gender, albeit in 'rare' circumstances. The new version has been backed by Dr Hilary Cass, who carried out the 2024 independent review of NHS gender identity services for children, which led to a ban on puberty blockers for under-18s. The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.