Teachers at Britain's leading girls' schools have been told not to call pupils 'girls' or 'young women' in case it offends any questioning their gender identity.

Head teachers belonging to the Girls' Schools Association were instructed to use gender-neutral words like 'pupils' or 'students' to avoid discrimination.

The advice issued last week also banned the phrase 'young ladies' and recommended the creation of unisex lavatories.

Teachers at Britain's leading girls' schools have been told not to call pupils 'girls' or 'young women' in case it offends any questioning their gender identity (stock image of pupils at a girls' school)

Caroline Jordan, President of the GSA and headmistress of £33,000-a-year Headington School in Oxfordshire, backed the advice saying it affects an increasing number of young people questioning their identity.

'In assemblies, instead of saying "Girls, go to lessons," staff should consider saying "Pupils, go to lessons," or "Students, go to lessons,"' she told the Sunday Times.

'I do not want anyone to think that girls' or boys' schools are invested in one way of being a girl or one way of being a boy.

'My view is that where you can use gender-neutral language about people that is a good thing,' she added.

The advice was given to the GSA by Gendered Intelligence whose chairman, Jay Stewart, branded the phrase 'young ladies' sexist and 'transphobic'.

Caroline Jordan, President of the GSA and headmistress of £33,000-a-year Headington School in Oxfordshire, backed the advice

He said about one per cent of the population were transgender and that the new guidance helps them to not feel like 'freaks.'

The news follows the revelations last month that some parents were being asked to help their four-year-olds choose a gender before they start primary school.

Brighton and Hove City Council sent a letter to hundreds of families telling them which school their child would attend in September but asked them to respond with which gender their child preferred.

Along with the main text in the letter, there was also a note next to the tickbox for male/female explaining that the national recording system only gives two options for gender but to help their child choose a gender they most identified with.

It read: 'We recognise that not all children and young people identify with the gender they were assigned at birth or may identify as a gender other than male or female, however the current systems (set nationally) only record gender as male or female.

'Please support your child to choose the gender they most identify with. Or if they have another gender identity please leave this blank and discuss with your child's school.'