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Highgate School, located in north London, has announced that it plans to introduce a new dress code that would allow boys to wear skirts.
The school, which already allows students to choose what gender they are referred to as, is consulting parents over the move.
The school’s principal, Adam Pettitt, told The Times that the current generation is questioning if schools are being “binary” in the way they look at things.
“We are asking students: should it be called uniform number one and uniform number two? If some boys wore skirts and they feel happier and more secure in who they are, it must be a good thing,” he said.
Pettitt said that given the increasing number of young students coming forward as transgender, primary schools “will find parents saying: ‘My son does not want to be called Johnny any more’”.
“We will need to become understanding of what is a sensible reaction to this at different ages,” he said.
The decision by Highgate School follows similar moves by several UK schools which have introduced ‘gender neutral’ uniform policies.
South Australia’s Education Department also recently announced that its public schools would adhere to a mandatory transgender and intersex policy from this year.
In March, Dunedin North Intermediate, located on New Zealand’s South Island, announced that it would be abolishing gendered uniforms, replacing them with shorts, a kilt and trousers that can be worn by either sex.
The school’s principal, Heidi Hayward, said she hoped this decision would promote greater inclusivity and safeguard the school’s diversity.
“Hopefully the flow-on effect from this is kids at our school who are questioning their gender or sexuality, hear that message that it is ok and we value diversity and being comfortable in your own skin,” she said.