Unions and LGBTQ+ Advocates Call for RSHE Guidance Overhaul

A coalition of educators and LGBTQ+ advocates, led by Pride in Education and formally backed by the NASUWT The Teachers’ Union, is urgently demanding a revision of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance set to be implemented in September 2026. Concerns are escalating over the potential detrimental impact this guidance could have on LGBTQ+ students and those with LGBTQ+ parents.

Pride in Education, a volunteer-led organisation, has spearheaded an open letter that has garnered over 5,000 signatures, including those from public figures, celebrities, educators, parents, and young people. As reported by DIVA, the letter unequivocally calls for the guidance to be revised, advocating for a framework that centers the voices and experiences of transgender, non-binary, intersex, asexual, and gender non-conforming individuals.

Through extensive qualitative research, including webinars, feedback surveys, and direct correspondence, Pride in Education has uncovered a distressing landscape of fear, confusion, and potential harm within schools nationwide stemming from the proposed guidance.

Matt Wrack, General Secretary of NASUWT, articulated the union's profound concerns, stating, "We have serious reservations about the proposed changes to the RSHE guidance. Its current form fails to uphold schools' fundamental obligation to act in the best interests of every child." Wrack further criticised the "extremely limited engagement" by the government with key stakeholders during the guidance's development, asserting that the revisions should be withdrawn. He emphasised the necessity for "a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process" to ensure the guidance is practical, evidence-based, supportive of all learners, and consistent with legal duties.

Educators surveyed by Pride in Education reported significant anxieties regarding uncertainty, inclusion, and safety. Many described the new guidance as riddled with ambiguity and contradictions. Teachers expressed profound unease about navigating PSHE lessons on gender diversity while simultaneously being expected to adhere to policies they morally oppose, fearing professional repercussions for inclusive teaching practices or for supporting trans and gender-diverse pupils.

Grave safeguarding concerns have also emerged. One mother recounted being compelled to withdraw her seven-year-old trans son from school for home education due to a lack of institutional support despite repeated pleas. Furthermore, the guidance raises serious apprehension for trans+ staff, with many respondents predicting a chilling effect that could force colleagues back into secrecy and deny them access to crucial mental health support as inclusive practices are curtailed.

Laïla El Métoui, founder of Pride in Education, underscored the severity of the findings. "The evidence we have collected directly from teachers, parents, and school communities is devastating," El Métoui stated. "With the endorsement and support of the NASUWT, we are committed to working collaboratively with the profession, centring teachers’ unions, young people, and partners to demand a revision of the RSHE 2026 guidance. It is imperative that this guidance protects pupils, supports staff, and truly centres the voices of the trans+ and gender diverse communities it affects. The current trajectory is failing the education sector and, most critically, harming young people. Educators know it, unions know it, and the evidence is now undeniable."