British Christians oppose idea of dresses for boys at school

Illustrative image of schoolchildren in a British primary school. Photo: open sources

On March 3, 2026, Christian organizations in the United Kingdom criticized the stance of the country’s education minister, who supported allowing boys to wear dresses in primary school as part of policies on pupils’ gender inclusion. The dispute arose amid debate over new government guidance on schoolchildren’s gender identity, Christian Today reported.

The backlash followed comments made by the UK Secretary of State for Education – who is also the Minister for Women and Equalities – in an interview on LBC radio. Speaking about proposed rules on how schools should treat pupils who identify as transgender, she said that boys in primary school should be able to wear dresses if they want to.

In response, the Christian organization Christian Concern issued a strongly worded critique. The group said schools should not encourage young children to experiment with changing their sex. It argued that boys and girls are created by God as male and female, and that educational institutions should not suggest otherwise.

The debate comes in the context of government guidance published last month. The document states that schools should not take steps toward social gender transition without following the necessary procedures, including consultation with parents and, where needed, medical advice. In primary schools, such cases should occur only in exceptional circumstances.

The question of how schools should treat pupils who identify as transgender has been controversial in Britain for several years. In 2022, the government reached a settlement with Christian parents who challenged a school policy on transgender pupils. Under the agreement, the family received compensation, and the Department for Education committed to revising its guidance for schools on these issues.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that British rights advocates criticized new transgender rules for schools.

Read also