Pride in Education continues the fight for trans inclusion in schools
This week, Pride in Education shared their report on the potential risks posed by the government’s updated Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance.
Alongside their work bringing LGBTQ+ history into schools, Pride in Education has been campaigning to make sure every young person in every classroom feels seen, valued and represented in the face of continual attacks on our community. Delivering a comprehensive report to Olivia Bailey, Minister for Equalities, they are calling for the urgent revision of the statutory guidance around Relationships, Sex and Health Education for schools in England, set to come into force in September 2026.
"Every single child deserves to thrive. That is not a political position. It is a basic human truth."
The guidance fails to protect young LGBTQ+ people in schools, diminishing trans identities and failing to recognise intersex and asexual experiences.
What is going on in our schools?
As shown by the report, the 2026 RSHE guidance is building fear amongst the LGBTQ+ community. Trans and non-binary educators report they are making themselves smaller every day, worried that simply existing openly in their classrooms could be used against them. Schools that used to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month are quietly dropping it.
Parents of trans children are reaching out to Pride in Education, set up to support educators not families, to share their struggles, not feeling heard by the education system. One non-binary secondary school teacher told Pride in Education: "Since the decision in April and then the proposed 2026 RSE changes, I have less confidence in myself. I am making myself smaller. I am worried at what will be expected of teachers in terms of minimising a student's gender identity. I definitely feel less secure with supporting any trans and non-binary students."
Graham Robson
Pride in Education's open letter has gathered over 5,000 signatures, not just from educators and parents, but several public figures. Stephen Fry, Paloma Faith, Russell Tovey, Dame Kelly Holmes, Kate Nash, Lord Michael Cashman, Peter Tatchell, Christine Burns MBE, Yasmin Benoit, Bobbi Pickard - this year's Attitude Award 101 winner - and thousands more have all put their names to the demand for change.
The NASUWT, one of the UK's largest teaching unions, has formally backed the campaign. This is a community coming together. Following on from the report, Pride in Education will be launching a free e-book packed with age-appropriate classroom activities, strategies for working with parents and cross-curricular ideas covering everything from history and English to science, PE and art. The guide has been carefully built alongside trans and non-binary educators, activists and community members, because Pride in Education believes in nothing about us without us.
On 13 March, Pride in Education will be showcasing this e-book at their upcoming webinar, Bringing Trans+ Histories to Life in Your Classroom, with Trans+ History Week founder Marty Davies. As we mark International Transgender Day of Visibility on 31 March and look ahead to Trans+ History Week from 4 May, this is the perfect moment to get involved, get equipped and get behind a campaign that is making a real difference.
Laïla El-Métoui, Founder of Pride in Education, said: "We set out to support educators. We ended up having to fight for them - and for the young people they are trying to protect. We are calling on ministers to act with kindness, compassion and goodwill.
"Every single child deserves to thrive. That is not a political position. It is a basic human truth."
Pride in Education is a volunteer-led organisation operating with no core funding - if you want to support their work, every contribution makes a difference.
Register for the free webinar, 13 March HERE
Support Pride in Education's volunteer-led work HERE
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