Report: Teachers in the UK told not to address students by their chosen pronouns

In the latest guidance released by the UK Department of Education, teachers have been informed that they are not obligated to use students’ chosen pronouns. The draft document specifies that individuals at a school, including children, teachers, or staff, should “not be required to adopt the use of preferred pronouns.”

The draft further states that in cases where preferred pronouns are not provided, schools should use the child’s preferred name, emphasizing the duty of schools to ensure that bullying is never tolerated.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan commented on the decision, asserting that teachers and pupils should not feel pressured to use different pronouns. The draft guidance adopts a ‘parents first’ approach, stating that parents should be informed at the earliest opportunity if their child expresses a desire to identify with a different gender than assigned at birth.

Keegan emphasized the importance of incorporating parents’ views into decisions made about their children. Despite the numerous changes in the guidance, former Prime Minister Liz Truss expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the provided guidance offers “insufficient protection and clarity.” Truss had previously presented a private member’s bill advocating for schools not to recognize social transitioning for individuals under 18.

The new guidance adopts a cautious approach to the issue, indicating that teachers do not have a “general duty” to permit pupils to socially transition. The guidance encourages caution, including “watchful waiting periods” and ensuring full consultation with parents before making any decisions.

The draft emphasizes that proper use of the guidance implies that social transition should be exceedingly rare when appropriate safeguards are in place, and decisions are made in the child’s best interest.