LONDON: With a push from campaigners and some parent groups, more British schools are allowing pupils to explore their gender identities in a bid to be more inclusive and stop bullying.

Cumberland High School, a sprawling establishment with nearly 1,500 pupils in east London, is one of hundreds of schools around the country that is taking steps to break down the binary division between male and female.

Cumberland has adopted a more liberal uniform policy that blurs gender boundaries and is adapting its infrastructure − such as gym changing rooms − in an effort to be more accepting.

“Changing is an issue for some pupils so we have gender-neutral changing rooms that anyone can use,” said Jake Jones, a sports teacher at the school who is also head of the personal, social and health education department.

“I think a lot of our inclusive approach comes down to terminology,” Jones said, pointing out that teachers are being encouraged to avoid “boys” and “girls” and use non-gendered terms such as “pupils” or “children.”

The Independent