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Schools in England should not teach about gender identity, according to new draft guidance from the government.<\/b><\/p>\n
Government sources told BBC News<\/a> about plans to ban sex education for under-nines, as well as teaching about gender identity, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the new guidance would ensure children were not “exposed to disturbing content”.<\/p>\n Some teachers have said there is no evidence of a widespread problem.<\/p>\n Teaching unions have said the review was “politically motivated”.<\/p>\n Under the plans, secondary-school pupils will learn about protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender reassignment.<\/p>\n But the updated guidance makes clear schools “should not teach about the concept of gender identity<\/a>“, the government says.<\/p>\n It said it was right to take a “cautious approach”, adding teaching materials that “present contested views as fact – including the view that gender is a spectrum” should be avoided.<\/p>\n Education minister Gillian Keegan told BBC Breakfast: “Biological sex is the basis of relationship, sex and health education – not these contested views.”<\/p>\n The government is also strengthening rules to make it easier for parents to access teaching materials from schools, to see what their children are learning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n