Girl returns to school as a boy: 12-year-old swaps gender after telling mother he felt he was in the wrong body 

A brave young school pupil has started attending classes as a boy after admitting that he simply did not feel comfortable as a girl.

Shane Oliver, from Skegness, Lincolnshire, cut his long hair, got rid of his school skirt and changed his name from Shanicee as he revolutionised his way of living.

For six years he had felt trapped in his body: a girl on the outside but a boy deep down.

So two months ago his mother Leanne waved him off to school for the first day of the rest of his life - as skateboard loving Shane.

A brave young school pupil has started attending classes as a boy (left) after discovering he did not feel comfortable as a girl. Shanice Oliver (right), from Skegness, Lincolnshire, cut his long hair, got rid of his school skirt and changed his name to Shane as he revolutionised his way of living

The 12-year-old said: 'It has been much better since I went back to school as Shane, all of my friends have been really supportive.

'Most of my classmates understood why I came back to school as a boy and with the others I helped to explain it to them in a different way.

'I told them I was meant to be a boy but I came out as a girl, so I was born as the wrong person.' 

Shane was just six-years-old when he first told his mother that he hated his long hair and girly dresses.

From an even younger age, mother-of-two Leanne, 31, noticed he would never play with toys designed for girls and preferred the likes of dinosaurs and Lego.

As he grew older he shunned dresses and his mid-length locks, and even begged his mother to let him wear a suit instead of a bridesmaids dress to his sister's wedding.

He finally broke down in tears two years ago explaining that he hated his life because he was a girl on the outside but a boy inside.

Now 12 and he goes by the name Shane and goes to school in male clothing. 

Shane was just six-years-old when he first told his mother that he hated his long hair and girly dresses. From an even younger age, mother-of-two Leanne (pictured, with Shane), 31, noticed he would never play with toys designed for girls and preferred the likes of dinosaurs and Lego

Leanne has now redecorated the room Shane shares with his sister, replacing the pink walls with comic book-themed décor

Barmaid Leanne said: 'When Shanice broke down in tears and told me she hated her life and that she was born a female but she knew she wasn't a girl - it broke my heart.

'Even while growing up she always preferred boys clothing and wouldn't play with girls stuff, she preferred skateboards and anything to do with army or Lego.

'Once Shanice was able to tell me her secret that she was born in the wrong body I could see the relief from her face. She was so miserable before.'

She continued: 'He decided to keep part of his old name, when he was born I named him Shanice, now he's Shane.

'He told me he wanted to cut off his long hair and that he'd only wear dresses to make me happy and deep down he absolutely hated it because he felt like he was acting. 

'He used to have long hair too but was never happy about it and before I always had to force Shanice to smile, but since having cut his hair and living as a boy he's been a smiling ray of sunshine.'

Since turning his life on its head, Shane's self belief has sky rocketed.

All of his classmatess and teachers have been hugely supportive of his change and the youngster has never felt better.

Leanne continued: 'His confidence has improved so much more now. Before he was terribly shy but now he's bold and proud.

'He's been living as a male for two months now and even at school his friends have really been supportive.

'The only problem we had was when one child called Shane a 'he-she', but he got into trouble straight away and was given lessons on homophobia. Since then it's been brilliant.

'I've always brought up my kids to be proud of who they are and not to care about what other people think, now I know that Shane is doing that.

'Shane's happy all the time, he's always messing around and dancing in the middle of the shopping aisles - he can now live how he wants.' 

As Shane grew older as Shanice, he shunned dresses and his mid-length locks, and even begged his mother to let him wear a suit instead of a bridesmaids dress to his sister's wedding

Since turning his life on its head and leaving Shanice (left) behind, Shane's self belief has sky rocketed. All of his classmatess and teachers have been hugely supportive of his change and the youngster has never felt better

Leanne has now redecorated the room Shane shares with his sister, replacing the pink walls with comic book-themed décor.

She said: 'Shane used to have a pink room before but he hated it, so now we've just finished covering it in Marvel wallpaper and he has lots dinosaurs and boy toys in there.

'Even before becoming Shane he hated the colour pink because he felt it was too girly and used to say it felt like he was walking into a Barbie house.'

The brave schoolboy is currently receiving counselling and will be referred to Children and Adult Mental Health Services later this year where he will be able to discuss future plans.

Leanne said: 'A lot people thought Shane would grow out of wanting to be a boy, but he's been the same since he was six.

'At first I was a little worried too that he may change his mind about living as a boy, but he knows who he is and as long as he's happy that's all that matters.'

The Tavistock Clinic have reported that the number of trans people referred to the clinic has increased by 50 per cent in each of the last few years.

Figures from a 2007 report show that 34 per cent of transgender people have considered suicide before receiving professional assessment and support.