THE headteacher of Didcot Girls' School has said she "wholly agrees" with not calling pupils "girls" so not to upset anyone who might be questioning their gender.

Rachael Warwick commended fellow Oxfordshire head Caroline Jordan for her comments regarding the proper way to address students.

Talking to the Sunday Times, Ms Jordan said staff should say "students" or "pupils" rather than "girls" or "young ladies".

Mrs Warwick said yesterday: "I thought that Ms Jordan's points were well made. She talked about using the word "students" in a specific situation and I agree with her completely.

"It's about showing sensitivity in how we deal with young people.

"It's not discourteous to the pupils to refer to them as "students" but it might help that one person."

Ms Jordan's comments came as the GSA told leading private, single-sex schools not to use the words "girls", "young women" and "young ladies" because they might offend pupils who are questioning their gender identity.

Instead, teachers are recommended to use gender-neutral words such as pupils or students.

It even recommended creating unisex lavatories at schools to be sensitive to all genders.

Mrs Warwick of Didcot Girls' School added while there were no plans for her school to do this just yet, she said the school would be happy to "if the need arose".

Ms Jordan, who is also president of the Girls' Schools Association, told the Sunday Times: "In assemblies instead of saying ‘girls, go to lessons’, staff should consider saying ‘pupils, go to lessons’.

"That is something our schools are thinking about and some are already doing.

"I feel that every year there are more young people posing questions around their gender identity.

"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."

Responding to her comments, headteacher of all boys school St Birinus School in Didcot John Marston said yesterday: "We refer to our students as students. We are a community centred around educating the whole young person and value each and every student as a learner.

"In the main body of the school we have boys and this is unique and special within state schools in Oxfordshire.

"They are our students and all our efforts at St Birinus are focused on them fulfilling their potential within the context of an all-round education."