Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answers of 9 November 2022 to Questions 79339 and 79340 on Schools: Gender Recognition, if she will provide a separate Answer to Question 79339.

The Department knows that issues around gender can be sensitive for schools. The Department expects schools to prioritise individual pupils’ wellbeing in these matters. Schools are responsible for making decisions in line with their legal duties, but the circumstances of each case will differ, and the Department cannot comment on individual cases.

The current service specification for the Gender Identity Development Service states that referrals can be made by staff in schools and colleges. NHSE are currently consulting on a new interim service specification, and one of the proposed changes is that referrals may be made by GPs and NHS professionals only.

The Department is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders to develop guidance for schools, including the Department of Health and Social Care and NHSE. The Department will also consider the outcomes of Dr Cass’s independent review, so that its guidance is aligned with policy across Government to ensure children and young people get the best possible support. The Department will be undertaking a full public consultation on the draft guidance before publishing in 2023.