Students at an Oxford college have been told one of their tutors is switching - from Ian to Isabel, writes Andrew Ffrench.

Classics tutor Ian Ruffell is expected to spend six months living fully as a woman before undergoing a sex-change operation.

Mr Ruffell, 29, dressed in a black skirt and tights, said today: "It is no big deal. I am Isabel Ruffell and that is the end of it."

Prof Paul Madden, senior tutor at The Queen's College, has written to students "to avoid any misunderstandings". He said: "One of our temporary college lecturers, Ian Ruffell, advised us earlier this month that he was planning to undergo gender reassignment and that he wished in future to be known as Isabel. "We felt it would be helpful for all members of the college if we let those students who are taught by Isabel know about this.

"This personal decision clearly does not affect Isabel Ruffell's teaching position within the college or university."

A university spokesman said: "The university is firmly committed to equal opportunities. Therefore a decision such as this by a member of staff would not affect their employment in any way."

Mr Ruffell, himself an Oxford graduate, joined The Queen's College in High Street last year as a visiting lecturer, for one academic year. Meanwhile, fellow academic Susan Marshall, who changed sex in 1994, has offered her support.

Ms Marshall, 51, home bursar of Exeter College, previously worked as Simon Stone.

She told the Oxford Mail: "I do not know the lecturer, whom I will now refer to as Ms Ruffell, but I can see no reason why she should not have the full backing of fellow staff and her pupils.

"I found that my students, whom I deal with mainly on accommodation issues, had no difficulty at all with my situation and have been extraordinarily broad-minded and accepting. People do need to be understanding because the actual moment of transition is difficult, but one of the key things for me was having a sense of humour. "Should Ms Ruffell want to speak to me at any point about my experiences, I would be only too happy to advise her."

Last November, Ms Marshall, who is divorced with two grown-up daughters, celebrated victory in a discrimination battle over a job she applied for with the Crown Prosecution Service in 1993. She was offered a job as a prosecutor when she was still Simon Stone but after her sex-change treatment the offer was withdrawn. She won an undisclosed out-of-court settlement before the case reached the Court of Appeal.

In 1997, city GP John Browne, 46, underwent a sex change to become Joanna. She was unavailable for comment yesterday at St Bartholomew's Medical Centre in Manzil Way, east Oxford.

Story date: Wednesday 28 April

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