TRANS teachers can ask their pupils to call them Mx instead of Mr or Mrs, the Education Secretary has said.

Bridget Phillipson said they have the right to “make that request” of them.

She told LBC: “But of course, what we’ll be looking at is making sure that people are able to exercise their views on this topic too.

“This has been the subject of various legal cases as well about people’s rights in terms of how they approach questions of gender identity.”

The prefix Mx is used by some trans people as a gender-neutral way of saying Mr or Mrs.

Ms Phillipson has also been criticised for failing to publish long-awaited trans guidance for schools after more than a year in power.

She inherited draft guidance from the Tories that said that teachers should adopt a “cautious approach” to children wanting to socially transition by living like the opposite sex.

Ms Phillipson said she wanted to take time to review the policies — but has still not produced them 13 months into the job.

Yesterday she could not say when the guidance would finally be released, despite concerned parents asking for it.

Tory Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said last night: “The guidance for schools on gender-questioning children is ready to go.

“It will give schools the clarity they need, end the confusion and help safeguard children.

“No more excuses from the Education Secretary, she just needs to get on with it.”

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