The Good Schools Guide will examine how “transgender-friendly” schools are for the first time, its director has said.

Bernadette John, a director at the guide's consulting service, said that parents are increasingly asking for advice on which schools cater for the needs of transgender children.

She said that pupils who are querying their gender can become very distressed when a school does not accommodate their wishes, for example to wear the uniform or use the toilet or changing room that is reserved for the opposite sex.

In some cases, parents resort to moving their children to a different school where teachers are well-versed in dealing with transgender issues.