By JASON GROVES, POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 00:24 GMT, 31 December 2025 | Updated: 00:25 GMT, 31 December 2025

Bridget Phillipson was last night warned her failure to publish long-delayed trans guidance for schools is putting children and teachers 'at risk'.

In a letter to the schools' watchdog Ofsted, shadow education secretary Laura Trott said there was no excuse for further delay in releasing guidance which has been sat on Ms Phillipson's desk for 17 months.

Ms Trott said the continuing delays were leaving schools in limbo, resulting in children, teachers and parents facing a 'patchwork' of different rules across the country.

'Such inconsistency places children at risk and leaves staff exposed to legal and professional uncertainty,' she said.

Guidance for schools on dealing with gender questioning children was drawn up under the last Conservative government but did not come into force before the election.

The Education Secretary has been under growing pressure to publish it since April when the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released new guidance on the protection of single sex spaces in April.

At the time, Ms Phillipson told MPs that guidance for schools would be published this year, but government sources acknowledged the deadline would now be missed.

Ms Trott said that schools, colleges and children's homes were facing 'immense pressure… to socially transition children, irrespective of parental wishes, with obvious risks of long-term psychological harm to the children involved, many of whom might otherwise desist in due course'.

Downing Street denies Bridget Phillipson is blocking trans guidance to schools - but insists she needs more time to 'get it right' 

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott says delay to guidance is leaving schools in an impossible position - and putting children at risk

She added: 'Some schools have already made changes, including adapting facilities or recording new gender identities and names without parental knowledge or consistent, transparent risk assessment. Others have taken opposing approaches, leading to a patchwork of practice across the country.'

Downing Street has defended the delay, saying Ms Phillipson is dealing with a 'complex area' and is determined to 'take the time to get it right'.

But critics have accused her of deliberately dragging her heels.

Ms Trott has now asked Ofsted to acknowledge the 'safeguarding implications' of the continued lack of clear guidance and 'underline that single sex spaces are paramount to the safety of young people at school, as they are in wider society.'