A child aged just three or four was suspended from a British state school in the 2022–23 academic year for alleged “abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity,” according to official data from the Department for Education (DfE). The case, confirmed by The Telegraph, is part of a broader trend showing dozens of primary school pupils suspended or excluded under similar accusations, raising serious questions about the application of adult ideological frameworks to early childhood education.
DfE statistics reveal that 94 children in state primary schools were suspended or permanently excluded during the same academic year for transphobia or homophobia-related incidents. Among them were 13 children aged just four or five, a revelation that has drawn sharp criticism from public figures and advocacy groups.
Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, described the disciplinary action as a sign of ideological extremism. “If your ideology is so rigid it justifies punishing toddlers for not complying with it, that’s a powerful argument for discarding it in favor of something less dogmatic,” he stated.
This is totalitarian insanity. If you think small children should be punished for being able to recognise sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near kids or in any position of authority over them. https://t.co/IZI0sP58ss
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 31, 2025
Author J.K. Rowling also condemned the suspension, calling it “totalitarian insanity.” She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “If you think small children should be punished for being able to recognise sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near kids or in any position of authority over them.”
Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at the group Sex Matters, warned that the case is not an anomaly. “Apparently, 13 four and five-year-olds were suspended or permanently excluded from school for the same reason,” she said, accusing school leaders of projecting adult concepts onto very young children. “It’s unforgivable for children’s vital early education to be so traumatically disrupted.”
While critics argue that such disciplinary measures reflect ideological overreach, the Department for Education defended its stance. A spokesperson stated that the government prioritizes safety and protection for all pupils and staff and supports school leaders in enforcing good behavior. The department emphasized that the broader “Plan for Change” focuses on improving outcomes for all children, regardless of background.
The incident echoes earlier controversies, such as a 2022 case reported by The Daily Mail, where a Church of England school warned the parents of a six-year-old boy that he could be labeled “transphobic” for questioning a classmate’s choice to wear a dress.