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Supporting staff who are trans or non-binary to socially transition

Learn how to support a staff member through social transition with our discussion guide and action plan, and find advice on communicating with pupils, staff and parents/carers.

Last reviewed on 7 November 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 46099
Contents
  1. Understand your legal requirements
  2. Maintain a culture where staff feel safe to come out
  3. Speaking to a staff member who is trans, non-binary or questioning their gender
  4. Ask the member of staff what changes and support they need
  5. Discuss whether and how to share the news with your community
  6. Figure out next steps to support all members of staff who are trans, non-binary or questioning their gender

This article covers how you can support an individual member of staff to socially transition at school (if that’s what they want). You should also look for ways to embed inclusivity across your school – see our audit and guide on this for more details.

Understand your legal requirements

While there’s a lot you can do to support staff who are trans or questioning their gender, you need to be aware of your legal requirements and how they affect what you can offer. Keep in mind that elements of the law, or lack of clarity about how it applies in schools, might be upsetting for the staff member.

The UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman  This states that ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a ‘biological woman’ (someone of the female sex