Commenting after the government shared details of proposed new guidance for schools on children questioning their gender, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“We welcome the publication of this guidance for consultation, as there is a clear need for greater clarity about how schools should manage this sensitive issue and support their pupils.

“Placing this within existing safeguarding guidance ensures that the key principles of safeguarding children underpin the approach schools take. It is important to remember that individual children and young people are at the heart of this, and schools remain focused on ensuring that every child in their care is safe and treated with compassion and humanity.

“We will now look closely at the detail and provide a comprehensive response to the consultation on behalf of our members.”