Code First update fields without required field

This is me, the thing.

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 mandatory choice is also included in the gender field. I simply want to change the name field in my update.

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();

The gender field is necessary, and a DbEntityValidationException is issued when changes are saved. I want to maintain the current value from the database rather than updating it.

Is there a suitable alternative that doesn't need first requesting the value for that gender column from the database?

Thanks.