A Trafford girls’ school has banned pupils from being called ‘girls’.

Altrincham Grammar School for Girls , one the best schools in the country, says from now on staff and pupils will use ‘gender neutral’ language.

In a letter to parents, principal Stephanie Gill said the term ‘girls’ will be no longer be used when addressing students to break ‘ingrained habits in the way pupils are spoken to and spoken about’.

Ms Gill said using the term could result in transgender pupils being ‘misgendered’.

When asked by the Manchester Evening News what prompted the move, a spokesperson said: "It was in response to training, and the school’s understanding of the challenges facing students who are questioning their gender identity, or do not identify as girls."

Pupils are now likely to be addressed as ‘students’ instead.

It is understood the 1,350-pupil school has no plans to drop the term ‘girls’ from its name.

The principal’s letter read: “We have moved to using gender neutral language in all our communications with students and parents.

“We know that for many transgender students being misgendered can be very hurtful.”

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Yet the move has been met with some hostility from parents of youngsters at the school.

The change was branded ‘potty’ by one parent who said they thought the letter was a ‘joke’ when it arrived.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said they were left stunned by the policy change.

“When I opened the letter I wasn’t sure if it was a joke or not”, they said.

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“We are not even sure how many girls there are having issues with their gender, it could be there’s none.

“It all seems a bit potty to me, they are talking about diversity, but it’s a girls only school. How does that work?”

A statement issued by the school said: “It’s important our students feel comfortable and able to bring their true selves to the learning environment.

“We welcome and celebrate diversity at our school and we will look at any measure, however small, to ensure the wellbeing of our staff and students.”

The school, which first opened its doors in 1910, educates 1,350 girls and was recently crowned the best state school in north west England.

It is one of the highest achieving schools in England and all its students were awarded A*-C grades in last year’s GCSE exams.

Its results saw it named sixth best state school in the country, according to The Sunday Times Schools Guide.

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