Transgender girl at Melbourne Grammar to stay at elite boys’ school

A transgender student at one of Melbourne’s elite boys’ schools will remain a pupil after announcing her transitioning identity.

A transgender student will remain at Melbourne Grammar School.

A male student now identifying as a female will complete her education at Melbourne Grammar School, one of Australia’s most prestigious boys’ schools.

The student came out to peers and the wider school community on Tuesday.

One of the country’s top schools, Melbourne Grammar School counts three prime ministers, three Victorian premiers and leaders of business, medical research, the defence forces and the judiciary among Old Melburnians.

In a note to families sent on Tuesday the VCE student said:

“I have chosen to reveal this to you because I genuinely believe that this will be a

positive experience not only for me, but for others in the future who wish to be open

about their gender identity or sexuality,” she said.

“I also hope that this will improve the culture surrounding LGBTQIA+ people in our community. If I can spark insightful discussion, improve understanding, or make it easier for anyone at Melbourne Grammar and beyond to be comfortable with themselves and others, then this decision will be well worth it for me.

“I trust that you will be respectful and considerate, and that we will continue to support each other in this wonderful community. I’m nervous and excited to be sharing all this

with you, and I’m looking forward to being at school as, well … me!”

In an accompanying note to parents headmaster Philip Grutzner told families that one of the senior students had affirmed her gender as female and had commenced her transitioning process.

“I am proud to lead a school where we are actively working to ensure all members of our community feel safe and respected, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, beliefs, gender or sexual orientation. Within this context, I can advise that a Year 11 student has recently affirmed her gender as female and has commenced her transitioning process,” he said.

He said the student had not made the decision lightly.

“She has been supported in her decision making by her parents, expert medical and psychological practitioners, family, friends, as well as others in the school

and the wider community,” he wrote.

Mr Grutzner asked the school community to trust in the school’s capacity to support the student and her family, without unnecessary disruption to anyone.

“I also ask that you consider the school’s belief in the importance of diversity, inclusivity and kindness,” he said.

He said the student would have access to all aspects of the school program and have access to appropriate bathroom and change room facilities.

“We are confident that there are operational systems already in place that can

satisfactorily manage any practical issues that may arise,” he said.

Melbourne Grammar School has co-ed Grimwade House, in Caulfield, from prep to Year 6 where fees are just under $30,000 per year. Male students go on to the MGS where fees at VCE top $37,000.

The student is the latest student to come out as transgender in Victorian government and private schools. Navigating the change is lower key in co-ed schools but poses some challenges for single sex schools.

In the past year a number of schools, including Catholic boys’ college Xavier College and Camberwell Grammar have acknowledged trans students.

Xavier College principal William Doherty wrote to parents earlier this year telling them a year 12 student, who was assigned male at birth, is undergoing a “significant and courageous personal journey”.

Xavier principal William Doherty wrote to parents, saying the school supported the student’s decision to come out.

He acknowledged that gender issues prompted a range of different opinions but the school’s aim is to respect “the dignity of each and every unique person”.

“After an extensive period of personal discernment, specialist advice and counselling, we note that a Year 12 student has today announced to the Xavier community her identity as female,” Mr Doherty and chaplain Fr Chris Middleton said in a joint note to the school community.

Mr Grutzner, a Melbourne Grammar alumni, was principal at the progressive co-ed Carey Baptist Grammar in Kew for 10 years before landing the job at MGS in 2020 where he graduated in 1981. He was the first former student to be appointed headmaster.

In 2018, as head of Carey, Mr Grutzner made a submission to a Senate inquiry into the Sexual Discrimination Act where he opposed religious schools discriminating against staff or students on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

“In my 22 years as a principal of three Christian schools, those schools have never discriminated against any staff member or student on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation,” he submitted.

He said staff were aware of the disturbing mental health statistics for transgender or gender diverse. He cited 2017 Australian research which examined the mental health of trans youth, showing almost 80 per cent, aged 14 to 25 years, had self-harmed, compared to just 11 per cent of adolescents overall.

“An alarming 48 per cent had attempted suicide, compared with 2.4 per cent of adolescents overall. Transgender young people are also 10 times more likely to suffer from serious depression and anxiety than other young Australians,” his submission said.

“These aren’t just numbers. They represent real people who deserve our support, as do their friends and family.”

In his submission, Mr Grutzner said as a Christian leader of a Christian school he took the example of Jesus who welcomed all people from all backgrounds.

“At Carey we actively support students who have undergone or are about to go through gender transition as well as support several transgender future students as they prepare to come to Carey. For over a decade we have welcomed same sex couples at the Year 12 School formal,” he said in 2018.

Several teachers told the Herald Sun that within school walls, teachers and welfare staff and fellow students support and accept trans and non-binary students.

Most of the noise comes from outside the schools, they say.

Several years ago, Haileybury College told families that some students, who were changing their gender identity, would move between the school’s unique parallel education model.

The parallel education model, marketed as a best of both worlds, separates girls and boys on the same campus but they come together for activities and in senior classes.