Trans charities have been “pitting parents against schools” by encouraging them to dispute Government guidance.
Education Minister Baroness Barran expressed her concern about the situation in the House of Lords, labelling some charities' stances as “quite oppositional”.
Guidance released by the Government stressed teachers and pupils should not be “compelled” to use a child’s preferred pronouns.
It also told school staff not to “exclude” parents from decisions concerning a child’s request to “socially transition”.
Teenage female student raising her hand to answer a question
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The Education Department launched a public consultation over the guidance.
However, the consultation stage is due to close in the coming weeks.
Stonewall is among the charities accused of urging parents to challenge schools over trans and gender-questioning children.
Mermaids also released a template letter for parents to send to schools.
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Baroness Barran MBE was re-appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education
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The letter’s tone was described by human rights charity Sex Matters as “bullying”.
Baroness Barran said: “The anecdotes we hear are that the guidance is already having an impact on parents, who feel able to ask schools to account for their decisions.
“Once the guidance is published, if individuals are worried, they should talk to their school about it.
“I looked at some of the campaigns being run and some of the templates that charities have published.
Participants hold a 'We are Stonewall' banner during this year's Pride in London Parade
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“Personally, I share the noble Baroness’s concern that they are quite oppositional in tone and are pitting parents against schools, which the guidance explicitly tries to avoid.”
She added: “The guidance is very clear that each case should be taken individually.
“The safety and well-being of children must always be our primary concern, which is why that is at the heart of the guidance.
“Some of the medical steps to which the noble Baroness refers are implicit in that safety and well-being focus.”
