Head teachers at girl-only schools warn against calling girl pupils 'girls'

Some of the country’s leading girl-only schools are suggesting their pupils should not be called girls in a bid to become more gender neutral.

The Girl’s School Association (GSA) has said schools should instead consider addressing children merely as “pupils” and “students”.

Caroline Jordan, president of the GSA, said in some circumstances staff should think about using gender neutral language, particularly “when transgender pupils are present”.

But the GSA also adds that it is up to individual schools to apply the advice it suggests, where the school thinks it is appropriate.

Staff at the City of London School for Girls have also started to address their pupils neutrally.

The suggestion has come from the GSA’s annual Summer Briefing for Heads, which is the latest expert advice, guidelines and good practice on a wide range of issues. It also says schools have a duty of care to all pupils, including "those who decide to transition”.

The advice was brought to the GSA’s attention by Gendered Intelligence, which runs gender intelligence sessions. It recommends avoiding terms such as “young ladies”.

The GSA describes the decision as “complex pastoral issue”.

Ms Jordan said: “Language is one part of this complex pastoral issue and GSA schools, which have a long history of excellence in pastoral care, are at the forefront of showing best practice in including transgendered pupils.

“Where relevant to the audience, in assemblies, for example, instead for saying “Girls, go to lessons,” staff should consider saying “Pupils, go to lessons,” or “Students, go to lessons.”

“Every year there are more and more young people posing questions around their gender identity. I do not want anyone to think that girls or boys are invested in one way of being a girl or one way of being a boy.”