Over 5,000 people have now signed Pride in Education’s open letter calling for a revision to the RSHE 2026 Guidance
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY ROSEMARY KETCHUM VIA PEXELS
Volunteer-led organisation Pride in Education has secured the formal backing of the NASUWT The Teachers’ Union for its campaign demanding that the Department for Education urgently revises the guidance given for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). Said guidance comes into effect in September 2026 and could have a detrimental impact on both LGBTQIA+ students and students with LGBTQIA+ parents.
Pride in Education’s open letter, now with over 5,000 signatures, calls for the guidance to be revised and to centre transgender, non-binary, intersex, asexual and gender non-conforming voices. The open letter has been signed by celebrities and public figures as well as educators, parents, young people and allies.
The organisation has also gathered qualitative evidence from educators, parents and school communities through its webinars, feedback surveys and direct email correspondence. Their findings paint a concerning picture of fear, confusion and harm being experienced in schools across the country as a result of the proposed guidance.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of NASUWT said: “We have serious concerns about the changes to the RSHE guidance for schools. In its current form, the guidance seeks to guide schools to adopt approaches to teaching learning and support that do not reflect the obligation on schools to operate in the best interests of the child.”
“There was extremely limited engagement by government with teachers, leaders, young people and parents in the development of revisions to the RSHE guidance. We believe that the revisions to the guidance should be withdrawn.”
“The development of amendments and additions to the guidance should be undertaken through a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process which seeks the views of all those with a legitimate stake in ensuring that requirements on schools in respect of RSHE are practical evidence based uphold the mission of schools to support every learner and allow schools to operate in ways that are consistent with their legal responsibilities and duties.”
Pride in Education found that teachers face significant fears around uncertainty, inclusion and safety. Teachers have consistently described the new guidance as riddled with ambiguity and contradiction. Educators have also expressed fear about navigating PSHE lessons on gender diversity while being expected to follow rules they fundamentally oppose, while trying to maintain professional integrity. Others shared anxiety about facing sanctionsf or inclusive teaching practices or being disciplined for supporting trans and gender diverse pupils.
There are also potential safeguarding concerns. One mother told Pride in Education that she was forced to remove her seven-year-old trans son from school and begin home education after receiving zero support form is school despite repeated requests for help.
There are also grave concerns for trans+ staff. Many survey respondents predicted that colleagues could be driven back into the closet and left without access to appropriate mental health support as schools retreat from inclusive practice.
Pride in Education founder Laïla El Métoui has shared a message of hope: “The evidence we have gathered directly from teachers, parents and school communities is devastating. With the endorsement and support of the NASUWT, we will continue to work directly with the profession, centring teachers’ unions, young people and partners to demand the revision of the RSHE 2026 guidance. It must protect pupils, support staff and centre the voices of the trans+ and gender diverse communities it affects. The current direction of travel is failing the sector and ultimately harming young people. Teachers know it, unions know it, and now the evidence is undeniable.”
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