Code First update fields without required field

this is my entity:

public partial class Student
{
   public string Code { get; set; }
   public int Year { get; set; }
   public string Name { get; set; }
   public string Gender { get; set; }
}

Config:

HasKey(e => new { e.Code, e.Year});

Property(b => b.Code).HasColumnName("CODE").IsUnicode(false).HasMaxLength(20).IsRequired();
Property(b => b.Year).HasColumnName("YEAR").IsRequired();
Property(b => b.Name).HasColumnName("NAME").IsUnicode(false).HasMaxLength(50);
Property(b => b.Gender).HasColumnName("GENDER").IsUnicode(false).HasMaxLength(2).IsRequired();

The gender field also has the required option. In my update I only want to update the name field:

var student = new Student
{
   Code = "WRK",
   Year = 2018,
   Name = "Test Name"
};

_context.Student.Attach(student);

_context.Entry(student).Property(x => x.Name).IsModified = true;

_context.SaveChanges();

On SaveChanges it gives a DbEntityValidationException, saying the gender field is required. Although I don't want to update it, but keep the existing value from the database.

Is there a proper solution without first querying the database to get the existing value for that gender field?

Thanks.