Top marks for girl who transitioned gender

A TEENAGER who spent her GCSE years transitioning her gender is celebrating achieving top marks.

Cai Wynne-Williams began her gender transition in Year 8, shortly before she started studying for her GCSE subjects at Cardiff High School.

After she told her teachers, the school adapted their uniform policy, established unisex toilet facilities, and set about educating staff, pupils and parents about transgender identities.

This week 16-year-old Cai is celebrating picking up six A* grades, two A grades and a B in her results pack, as well as Welsh Baccalaureate and additional maths.

Cai said she credits her school, classmates and teachers for supporting her through the last two and a half years, and helping her achieve her potential.

Cai began her time at Cardiff High School in Year 7, but it was when she was 13 that she began to realise she was transgender.

“I have always kind of been a bit different,” Cai said. “I have always played with girls’ toys, when I was younger I would dress up in girls’ clothes but I never really thought about it.

“When I was coming into high school a friend came out as gay and he really helped me figure out my way around it.

“It was around Year 8, towards the end, that I realised this is probably who I am but I hadn’t come out in school, come out to anyone apart from my friends.”

Cai said she initially came to her deputy headteacher, Allison Yarrow, to ask if she could change to wearing the girls’ school uniform. She was also keen to start attending girls’ PE lessons.

But the school decided to change many more policies over the school holidays to help Cai feel more comfortable.

Their gendered school uniform colours were changed, a set of toilets was set aside as unisex, and guidance was issued to teachers.

Cai said: “The staff have been amazing here. They don’t mention it, it isn’t a thing.

“Everyone has been welcoming. I have a big group of friends.”