Pronouns, loos and uniforms: how schools became the gender wars frontline

The Glasgow Pride parade in 2017 on the eve of an announcement about a bill reforming the Gender Recognition Act. Photograph: David Cheskin/PA

Vic Goddard, principal of Passmores secondary academy school in Essex, has no desire to get caught up in a culture war. Instead he has spent the summer planning how to cope with a £320,000 deficit as a result of spiralling energy bills and a national teacher pay rise with no additional cash to pay for it.

“Why do politicians have an opinion on my school toilets? On our uniform policy?” he said. “Sort out the rocketing electricity bills and the cost of living. Don’t get involved in small decisions you don’t add value to.”