Terf Island: How the UK resisted trans ideology by Fiona McAnena, out 1 August 2025

I am reading Fiona’s book, Terf Island: How the UK Resisted Trans Ideology. (Have I already mentioned – it’s really good!) The first chapter is about Stephanie Davies-Arai, who founded Transgender Trend in 2015, well before many other people had realised how gender ideology was harming children.


In 2017, when Stephanie learned that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was working with Mermaids, Gendered Intelligence, Gires, Stonewall and Press for Change in preparation for publishing guidance on trans issues for schools, she pulled together a group of dissident educators and child-development experts who raced to produce their own guidance. Stonewall told teachers: “If it lands on your desk: shred it.” <


More than seven years and seven Secretaries of State for Education later, schools still lack sound official guidance on how to respond to requests from children to be treated as the opposite sex.

The government has said that schools in England might have long-awaited guidance, “if published”, when they re-open in September.


Since 2021 Sex Matters has been working with Transgender Trend to produce guidance that is clear about the law. Last September we published a Model policy for schools. We have now updated it following the Supreme Court’s judgment in For Women Scotland. <


There wasn’t much to update, since the Supreme Court’s judgment really only relates to people with gender-recognition certificates, who must be over 18. But it confirmed what should have been obvious all along. Neither a certificate nor a strong wish to be the opposite sex or personal steps such as changing name, clothing or hairstyle, taking hormones or having cosmetic surgery can change a person’s sex. <


Children might think differently, but responsible adults and institutions need to be clear about the truth.


Children who are distressed about their sex should be protected from harm and from bullying. But if children, their parents (or even their doctors) ask if children can use opposite-sex facilities and be referred to and treated as if they were the opposite sex, the answer should always have been No.


School leaders, teachers and school staff need to know, record and use information on every child’s sex. Policies adopted by local authorities such as Brighton and Hove City Council that are based on the idea that schools must try to avoid “outing” a child’s sex are unworkable and unlawful, and put children at risk.


Before pupils return in September, the government should direct schools that they are not to pretend that people can change sex, because they are not keeping children safe if they do so.


We have sent our updated model policy to the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP.


We have also taken the chance to alert her to the campaign being launched by BBC children’s presenter Dr Ronx to distribute “Safe With Me” badges to schools, hospitals and retailers. The badge, aimed at both children and adults, is a pledge that the wearer will “accompany trans+ people to their preferred facilities if asked”.


It should be obvious that handing out badges enabling people to self-identify as “safe” and telling children to accompany adult strangers to the toilet is utterly irresponsible. But then it should be obvious that pretending that men can be women is irresponsible too.


Download our updated model policy: