Pearson Edexcel Adds Gender-Neutral and Non-Binary Vocabulary Options to GCSE French, Spanish and German Exams from 2026

Pearson Edexcel has allowed GCSE French students to use gender-neutral language, inclusive pronouns, nouns, adjectives, new adjectival endings, different spellings, full stops, x's, asterisks and underscores in written and oral GCSEs. The new specifications for 2026 exams also impact students sitting Spanish and German GCSEs.

The curricula now include a section on 'gendered language' backed by Stonewall.

Pearson Edexcel added vocabulary for 'trans' and 'non-binary' to the vocabulary list, which has over 1,750 terms. Pearson Edexcel will recognise students' use of non-binary or gender-neutral pronouns when describing themselves or others in written and speaking exams.

GB News reported that gender-neutral terms such as 'iel' and 'iels' have been adopted by some universities and socialist councils in France.

Jean-Michel Blanquer, a former French education minister, said the proposals from the exam board are 'absurd'. "French grammar has not changed in this regard," Blanquer said. He added that the use of 'iel' does not correspond to any widespread usage among the French population.

The specifications require students to learn and be assessed only on the standard masculine and feminine forms used in these languages. Pearson membership of Stonewall ended over two years ago, the spokesman said. The spokesman added that the vocabulary list reflects the language students will encounter in everyday life, including references to men and women, him and her, boys and girls, mothers and fathers.

The Department for Education spokesman added that schools should not endorse any particular view or teach it as fact – including the idea that all people have a gender identity.