THE form sent to parents after primary school allocations intended to be inclusive.

Parents should tick either female, male or leave the box blank and discuss their child’s gender identity with the school. Superficially, straightforward.

What happened next was a surprise. National headlines saying Brighton and Hove City Council is asking four year olds to say what their gender identity is stretches the truth to breaking point.

I can see what the council is doing and I support it. But we must remember that gender is a complex issue that emerges over time.

Children adopt multiple identities as they grow and play – from superheroes to villains.

Some will enjoy dressing up, boys sometimes wearing dresses and girls traditionally male costumes; this isn’t necessarily a statement of gender identity.

Biologically people assume gender is simple. Genetically two X chromosomes is female and an XY combination is male.

Even the biology isn’t that simple. It’s possible to be genetically male (XY), but physically female.

Five weeks after conception an embryo can develop as either male or female.

It’s the activation of testosterone by genes on the Y chromosome that produces males, or genes on the X chromosome that promote the development of ovaries for females. Sometimes the genes fail.

Some people say that being gay or transgender is a choice, something that can be "cured" like a disease – it’s not and it can’t; there is no disease, that’s just malicious mythmaking.

Biologically and socially gender identity is complex.

For four-year-olds encountering the social complexity of schools we must listen to their developing feelings and act accordingly.

It doesn’t mean forcing them to make a lifelong lifestyle choice especially if the issue never even arises.

  • James D Williams is a lecturer in education at the University of Sussex School of Education and Social Work