Transgender student embraced by Cranbrook boys school will finish studies under female name

EXCLUSIVE: A boy at one of Sydney’s exclusive single-sex schools has been allowed to complete his studies after transitioning to become a girl.

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A BOY attending one of Sydney’s most exclusive single-sex schools has been allowed to complete his studies while transitioning to become a girl.

Where other schools have forced transgender students to change schools, Cranbrook School in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill has told parents the student will finish her Year 12 studies under her new female name.

However, the student will continue to wear the school’s standard issue boys’ uniform, while existing unisex toilets have been made ­available.

Cranbrook School is regarded as one of the nation’s most prestigious schools.

A Cranbrook spokeswoman confirmed the school had supported the student’s decision. “We  believe  our prime  responsibility as a school is to protect, ­uphold and enhance the safety, happiness, health and prospects of students under our care,” the spokeswoman said.

“This guides all that we do.”

Cranbrook consulted with Sydney school gender identity counsellor ­Elizabeth Riley on the transition of the student.

Dr Riley said she has advised 25 schools and families with a transgender child in the past three years, and estimates 1 per cent of the student community is transgender.

She said at least six students have transitioned to the opposite sex while remaining at an all-boys or all-girls school.

“The school very clearly recognises that the world is not defined by being in a boys school in Bellevue Hill in Sydney.”

Cranbrook School is regarded as one of the nation’s most prestigious schools, with past students including James Packer, Nine boss David ­Gyngell, actor Sam Reid and NSW ­Supreme Court judge Robert ­Macfarlan.

The Anglican independent day and boarding school prides itself on encouraging its students to “explore, enjoy and fulfil” their ­potential, while building “resilience”.

A parent with a son at Cranbrook applauded the decision to accommodate the student, saying the school community had been overwhelmingly supportive of the move.

The parent, who declined to be named, said the school’s decision was a topic of discussion at the traditional start-of-school drinks.

“The school has recognised this student’s desire to be known by a ­female name, but in other aspects such as school uniform, it’s the same for everyone which seems like a sensible outcome to me,” the parent said.

Dr Elizabeth Riley provides advice to schools and parents with transgender children. Picture: Tim Hunter

“The Year 12 cohort had sessions on the transgender topic. It was dealt with as a general issue and not specifically in relation to this student.

“The school very clearly recognises that the world is not defined by being in a boys school in Bellevue Hill in Sydney.”

The school’s decision comes amid plans by the federal government to end funding to its controversial Safe Schools program, which was aimed at assisting schools to teach children about sexual and gender diversity.

The highly controversial anti-bullying program was criticised by a Commonwealth review, which found some of its materials were inappropriate for primary children, including the suggestion gender was “fluid or limitless”.

“Over time as the culture becomes more accepting they will reveal themselves.”

In NSW individual principals ­decide whether to use the program, which will become an online resource after July this year.

Dr Riley, who has published a ­series of papers on the rise in adolescents seeking support for gender ­issues, said some families she had counselled had involved children as young as three.

“Parents are recognising earlier that there is something going on, something that is much deeper than just a phase of wanting to dress or ­behave a certain way. It is a naturally occurring phenomenon, not a disorder,” she said.

James Packer atteneded Cranbrook.

Alumni. David Gyngell.

“Up until a couple of years ago, children in single-sex schools that needed to undergo a social transition would change schools.

“But in the past few years I can think of at least six students that have transitioned in a single-sex school, which is great because, as we know, the children are there, and over time as the culture becomes more accepting they will reveal themselves.”

Dr Riley said failing to provide an inclusive environment for students undergoing gender issues could lead to incidents of self-harm.

While some education departments have introduced guidelines for schools on how to accommodate transgender students, public schools in NSW treat the issue on a “case-by-case basis”.

However, school students were able to use their preferred name at school, in consultation with their parents, and choose from the various uniform options, a NSW Department of Education spokesman said.

“Schools make appropriate arrangements for the use of toilets by all students,” he said.

“Schools support students on a case-by-case basis.”

The decision comes in the wake of moves by US President Donald Trump last week to scrap guidelines to public schools requiring transitioning students to use gender-­appropriate rest rooms.

The guidelines had been an initiative of the Obama administration, in making schools more inclusive of transgender students.

HORMONE TREATMENT APPROVED BY COURT

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl has been granted approval by the Family Court to begin “partially ­irreversible” testosterone treatment to become a male.

“Matthew” was given the all-clear to begin stage two treatment that will induce changes such as deepening of the voice.

Under world transgender health guidelines, the three ­accepted stages of intervention for “gender dysphoria” include puberty blockers to delay physical changes, hormone therapy to develop male or ­female ­attributes, and surgery.

The guidelines advise families to embark on a staged process to allow options to be “kept open”.

The court heard doctors treating Matthew had advised he was ready to move on to stage two.

It heard Matthew had told his mother that he had known he was transgender at age six. Now in Year 8, Matthew had maintained his view.

The court heard Matthew was academically bright, having been ranked in the top 20th percentile of children in his age in his state when in Year 6.

In Year 7, he received a young science achievement award, and was now planning on attending university.

In requesting the court give consent to the treatment, his mother described her son as having a mature outlook.

Matthew’s treating endocrinologist told the court her ­patient was aware “many ­aspects” of testosterone treatment were “irreversible” or “only partially reversible”.

“He also understands that he could stop pubertal suppression at any time and not proceed with androgen therapy and return to a female gender role,” she said. “He has firmly expressed that he does not wish to do that.”