Medical body sparks uproar with claims trans rules for schools 'pose a risk to ... trends now
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A leading medical body has sparked uproar by telling the Government its new gender guidance for schools 'poses a risk to children'.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says the proposed rules - which advise teachers against letting pupils identify as the opposite sex - will 'cause distress' and create a 'negative environment' as pupils will not be 'supported to be themselves'.
It has told the Department for Education it is 'particularly concerned' about primary school children being banned from changing their pronouns, and says parents should not always be told if their children are questioning their gender.
The college, which represents 20,000 child health doctors, also claims the long-awaited draft guidance published in December breaches the UN convention on children's human rights.
It tells civil servants they must work with 'support networks for transgender children' and consult with 'trans voice organisations' to 'protect the psychological safety' of young people when proposing new policies.
A leading medical body has sparked uproar by telling the Government its new gender guidance for schools 'poses a risk to children' (Stock Photo)
Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at women's rights group Sex Matters, said an 'ignorant and biased position' had been taken by the leading medical body
Written by Professor Andrew Rowland, the college's Child Protection Officer, it states: 'We are deeply concerned that the proposed guidance poses a risk to children and young people in that, if enacted, many of the measures set out are likely to cause distress for those who may be gender questioning or with gender incongruence, and their peers, and foster a negative school environment where children are not supported to be themselves.'
But its response has
