DUP minister introduces new sex-based schools policy - as controversial transgender guidance withdrawn by Education Authority
Schools will now be advised on transgender issues in line with a new policy which rejects gender ideology, as education officials announce they will follow new guidance based on biological sex.
The move comes after Stormont’s education minister asked officials to scrap controversial transgender guidance for schools, in light of the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of sex.
After Paul Givan made his announcement in Monday’s News Letter, the Education Authority has now withdrawn the 2019 guidance in question from its website, and says schools will receive advice and support “in accordance with” Department of Education (DE) policy.
The DUP minister has issued a policy document advising schools on issues such as single-sex sports, changing rooms and toilets facilities.
It defines ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ as biological males and biological females respectively – and advises that neither pupils nor teachers should be compelled to use pronouns other than those which reflect biological sex.
The move has been backed by the new Ulster Unionist education spokesman Jon Burrows – who says schools should not affirm the perceived gender of children – or do anything that endangers safety and fairness. However, the Alliance Party has condemned the plans – and accused the DUP minister of a “culture war distraction”.
The Education Authority’s transgender guidance was introduced during a period when Stormont ministers were not in place, after lobbying from transgender groups.
In his article for the News Letter, Mr Givan said that his department has tried to “ensure fairness, safety and respect for all children in schools” by affirming that “references to ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ are to be understood as biological males and females”.
“Pupils should use changing rooms and toilet facilities designated for their biological sex and that boys and girls should not share these spaces when in use. In competitive sports, mixed-sex participation is only permitted where governing bodies [explicitly allow it]”, Mr Givan said.
The EA 2019 guidance had said that “staff should give a transgender pupil access to toilets which match their gender identity”.
In a statement, the Department of Education said that its policy covers “pupils attending all grant-aided schools” in Northern Ireland following the UK Supreme Court Ruling on 16 April 2025 on the ‘For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers’.
UUP MLA Jon Burrows told the News Letter: “The recent landmark ruling of the Supreme Court handed down in April was extremely important and brought a focus on legal, policy and delivery pertaining to biological sex and gender issues.
“All our pupils at school should be treated with compassion and respect, and we can be respectful and sensitive in our language, but we must deal in facts and ensure that pupils are safeguarded.
“Single sex spaces like changing rooms and toilets should be based on biological sex alone, and no biological girls should have to share such a space with a biological male and vice versa.
“The same principle applies to sport, where fairness and safety are paramount; as such, where participation in sport is based on sex, then it is the biological sex that must apply”.
“Of course, where there are children who have identity issues, our schools should do what they can to support them, but not by affirming their perceived gender or doing anything that engenders safety and fairness on the playing field or pitch or that which requires other pupils to share single sex spaces with those of a different biological sex.”
The policy paper says that the Education Authority’s guidance for schools on Supporting Transgender Young People’ “is withdrawn with immediate effect”. In its place, the department has issued four principles for schools to follow:
1. Definition. Where this policy statement refers to ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ it refers to biological males and biological females respectively.
2. Use of changing rooms and toilet facilities. Boys should not use changing rooms when such changing rooms are being used by girls; girls should not use changing rooms when such changing rooms are being used by boys. Boys and girls should use separate toilet facilities where these are provided. Boys should not use toilet facilities that are dedicated to the use of girls; girls should not use toilet facilities that are dedicated to the use of boys.
3. Competitive Sport. Except where the Governing Bodies of a sport have made provision for competitive participation between boys and girls, boys should not participate in competitive sport against girls; girls should not participate in competitive sport against boys.
4. Use of Pronouns. Neither pupils nor teachers should be compelled to use pronouns other than those which reflect biological sex.
An Education Authority (EA) spokesperson told the News Letter: “The EA document on Guidance for Schools, EOTAS Centres, and Youth Service on supporting Transgender Young People document has been withdrawn. Support and advice remain available to schools on this matter from EA support services in accordance with DE policy”.