Primary heads told to include trans teaching

PRIMARY school head teachers are being told to include books featuring transgender parents on the curriculum.

Guidance from the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) says ‘trans perspectives’ must be visible in the classroom to combat prejudice among pupils.

The advice, endorsed by the Government and Ofsted, is expected to be rolled out in primaries across England.

It tells schools to ensure books featuring ‘trans parents’ or ‘celebrating gender identity and difference’ are included in the curriculum for pupils aged four to 11.

And it advocates ‘gender neutral phrasing’ for dress codes, asking schools to ensure uniform rules ‘avoid gender stereotypes’.

The NAHT is a teaching union made up 8,500 school leaders, most of whom are primary heads.

The guidance, released today, is contained in a document about ‘supporting trans staff’, which was compiled with the help of LGBT rights charity Stonewall.

It states that heads should ‘celebrate trans people, issues and experiences within the school and across the curriculum to celebrate diversity and ensure visibility of trans perspectives’.

Last night, the document was met with criticism from campaigners.

Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: ‘This latest intrusion into childhood will cause upset, confusion and trauma for many youngsters.

‘The only lesson children need to learn is “The Golden Rule” – treat others as you would wish to be treated.’