School trans guidance won't be replaced with 'hostile' alternative

Politicians have voted against new guidance for schools that they said suggested 'being trans is a problem.'

Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache attempted to completely replace the current inclusion policy with one called 'Treating Children as Children' - which he called a 'safeguarding approach'.

He was heavily defeated, with 35 against, five in favour, and five abstaining from voting.

Putting it to States members, Deputy Bailhache cited the example of an 'attractive, rather petite' 16-year-old Jersey student, who had socially-transitioned to a male, and taken hormones, supported - he said - by her school.

The deputy continued, saying that when changing her mind as she got older, she had 'facial hair' and other 'unwanted attributes', and had 'lost her good looks' - 'a tragedy facilitated by the school.'

Under the proposed replacement guidance, schools would have been advised not to 'socially' transition pupils, not to use their preferred names or pronouns and to enforce single-sex areas and sports categories.

The replacement policy would have made it essential for parents to be told of their child's choice - something that politicians agreed is not always safe, and could put the young person at risk.

READ: Divide over approach to gender guidance in schools

The current 'Trans Inclusion Guidance' was issued only a year ago, in March 2025. It encourages schools to respect people's requested names and pronouns, and promote messaging which reduces bullying and discrimination.

Politicians spoke overwhelmingly against changing the guidance, including the Educational Minister, Deputy Rob Ward, who said:

"It is a fundamental policy substitution from guidance developed within our statutory framework to one authored externally."

He has said previously that:

"Jersey law is clear: children and young people have the right to participate in decisions that affect them, and policies must be rooted in non-discrimination, dignity, and respect.

"Safeguarding must be led by professionals - not politics.”

Other politicians cited their conversations with young people, who they said saw the debate as such a 'non-issue', and that the message was that it is the adults who were 'overthinking it.'

Deputy Lucy Stephenson said: 'They are tolerant, supportive and respectful without even having to try. They are the true allies.'

Deputy Moz Scott agreed the current advice doesn't need changing:

"It does very much allow them (teachers) to use judgement.  It's not saying 'teach this particular ideology, tell these people to take puberty blockers' It does not do that!

"It tells them: use some discretion, be aware of the safeguarding."

Deputy Jonathon Renouf challenged Deputy Bailhache's approach too, saying it is based on a problematic ideology:

"The ethos behind the proposition is that being trans is a problem.

"Is gender dysphoria something from which one 'suffers?' That is clearly turning it into a pathology, not an experience or an identity. 

"The underlying ethos of 'Treating Children as Children' is explicitly hostile to the idea of children's rights. 

"Deputy Bailhache says the existing guidance is muddled, ambivalent and equivocal... and that's an interesting interpretation 

"The way I read the same guidance is that it is flexible and sensitive."

Deputy Bailhache did confirm in the debate:

"I fully respect the right of adults to change their gender and to choose who they want to be... but we are not debating trans adults and their rights."

How members voted

Earlier in the debate, politicians rejected Deputy Ian Gorst's suggested amendment, asking for a review of both approaches.