Shock poll reveals just a third of schools would inform parents if their child was questioning gender

LESS than a third of schools would inform parents if their child was questioning their gender, a poll found.

Four in ten also operate gender self-identity policies.

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Just 28 per cent of schools said they would tell parents if a child questions their gender[/caption]

A damning report out today warns transgender safeguarding principles are being “routinely disregarded” in many secondary schools.

The Policy Exchange think-tank says schools should tell the parents if a pupil questions their gender unless there is a compelling reason not to.

Its report adds: “While many schools believe that they are acting in a child’s best interests, there is no circumstance in which safeguarding should be compromised.”

Freedom of Information requests were submitted to 304 secondary schools in England, of which 154 responded.

Just 28 per cent said they would tell parents if a child questions their gender.

The same number do not maintain single-sex loos and 19 per cent do not have single-sex changing rooms.

The report concludes: “Our research reveals a safeguarding blind spot when it comes to the issue of sex and gender.”

In her foreword, the Labour MP Rosie Duffield said: “Safeguarding of children is fundamental to a civilised society.

“Policy Exchange demonstrates there to be a systemic failure in the school system, caused by an ill-considered embrace of gender ideology.”

Tory Robin Walker, chairman of the Commons Education Committee, said: “Safeguarding should always be a prime concern for schools.”