Transgender teachers have the right to demand pupils call them "Mx" as opposed to Miss or Sir, the Government has said.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has confirmed that teachers will be able to ask pupils to use the gender-neutral title.

However, she added that school guidance would ensure that “people are able to exercise their views on this topic too”.

Phillipson confirmed that official transgender guidance for schools is currently being drawn up.

Phillipson confirmed that official transgender guidance for schools is currently being drawn up

She told LBC: “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.

“We’ll consider all areas of the practical guidance that schools need, and [respond] to the challenges that they tell us they’ve faced.”

Regarding whether teachers would be able to ask their students to called them Mx, the Education Secretary added: “I think teachers can make that request.

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

Phillipson said that '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 Department of Education later added: “While teachers can make such requests, the Education Secretary was clear it’s not something that they can insist on.

"Teachers and pupils should be treated with respect."

Phillipson's department published fresh guidance last month on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), which noted that pupils should not be taught the idea that everyone has a gender identity as a fact.

The long-awaited transgender guidance appears to follow suit, stating that schools should be act neutral towards the topic and be careful not to teach it as fact.

The guidance specifies that “schools should be mindful to avoid any suggestion that social transition is a simple solution to feelings of distress or discomfort.”

The guidance specifies that 'schools should be mindful to avoid any suggestion that social transition is a simple solution to feelings of distress or discomfort'

Phillipson said: “The last Government was consulting on this at the point of the election. That consultation concluded and we had to look at all of those responses.

“But also what happened subsequently was Dr Hilary Cass published her final review around gender-questioning children.

“So I think it is important, given the sensitivity of this area, that we make sure that the guidance we publish is aligned fully with Dr Cass’s recommendations. And I do think it’s important we take the time to get this right.”

Although the Education Secretary said back in April that the guidance would be published "later this year", a specific timeframe has not yet been revealed.

And her remarks come after several primary school parents in southern England voiced their concerns over a "non-binary identifying" teacher demanding pupils use gender-neutral terms.

The move even caused some concerned parents to withdraw their children from the school altogether.

Tracy Shaw from the Safe Schools Alliance said: "Non-binary is not a status with any definition or meaning in law, as confirmed by the Supreme Court, and anyone claiming to have both (or neither) male and female identities should not be working in any capacity with children.

"Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance used to be the bedrock of safeguarding in school but more and more we see diversity and inclusion being prioritised."