adminTeachers at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, Essex, held a special assembly to inform pupils that the schoolmaster is having the operation and plans to return next term.
Tom Sherrington, who has been headmaster since 2008, also sent a letter to parents of the 860 pupils — explaining the procedure.
He wrote that the teacher, who has so far not been named, has throughout his life struggled with his gender identity.
“He is undergoing the process of gender reassignment,” he said.
Mr Sherrington said the teacher had been allowed to give up work for the rest of the term so that he can begin planning for his new life.
He would be returning to the school when the new term starts in September with his new name and will be referred to in future as ‘Ms.’
He added: “I would like to acknowledge the teacher’s courage in deciding to go through the transition process.”
The school issued an official statement which said : “King Edward VI Grammar School is proud of its commitment to equality and diversity among its staff and students.
“We support them all. We treat them with respect and have due regard for their well-being and privacy at all times, regardless of their age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.”
One sixth former told a local newspaper in Essex: “The whole thing was incredibly well handled.
“Our head of year read from a script and told us that the teacher was going to have gender reassignment surgery and will return in September as a Ms.”
The sixth former added: “She is really popular and massively eccentric and I must say one of my favourite teachers.”
The teacher involved is understood to teach history.
The school takes pupils from 11 to 18. From Year seven to 11, the pupils are exclusively male, although it becomes mixed in the sixth form (years 12 and 13).
The school’s motto is “Quicquid agas sapiens age fortiter ex animoque”, which means “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” — Daily Mail
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