Mixed-sex toilets in schools - children's actual views?

School put in a set of unisex toilets last year, dds said no way would they go in there. I just asked a few days ago how the toilets were going. They said they and their friends had never used them, they weren’t sure if some people did.

Times
Gender‑neutral toilets: My daughter was called selfish for wanting girls‑only loos at school
by Kelli Neale
June 26 2018
(extract)
However, yesterday ministers announced that they had “no intention” of changing laws that allow for single-sex toilets and changing rooms. And this means that whether a shop or cinema has unisex or single-sex facilities remains at its discretion.

For me this story has a particular, personal resonance. Last September my daughter came home from her co-ed school crying. “Oh no,” she said. “They’ve made the toilets unisex.”

“What, all of them?”

“Yes.” (continues)

concludes:
"The weeks passed and my daughter — along with others who were unhappy with the new loos — kept complaining, but their complaints fell on deaf ears. They were told to put up and shut up and think of others. As a parent, this felt wrong. Did only the transgender voice matter? What about my daughter’s voice? Shouldn’t both be listened to?

My daughter saw red. She started a petition for boys, girls and gender-neutrals to sign. Hundreds did. She insisted that a school council meeting be held and unisex toilets discussed. They were. And you know what? Eventually hers and other unhappy voices were listened to. And against the odds the toilets were quietly changed back to how they had been, with a smaller provision of unisex toilets kept for those who choose to use them.

It’s been a tough but fulfilling school year in which my child has learnt that if you’re passionate enough about something, you can effect change.

Don’t think for one minute, however, that she’s not sensitive to the transgender child. She is. She just wants everyone’s voices to be heard. It’s not about changing the law one way or the other. It’s about making sure that there’s provision for people of all genders or non-genders and that everyone feels comfortable everywhere."
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/genderneutral-toilets-my-daughter-was-called-selfish-for-wanting-girlsonly-loos-at-school-cwth60b2c

Following previous discussions of this on here I polled my ds1 and his friends (so sample size 6) about this and all preferred the mixed sex loos off the main atrium, as felt they were cleaner and less intimidating than closed off single sex loos elsewhere in the building. The girls felt this more strongly than the boys although again - small sample size.

This Head had to apologise
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4987780/Headmaster-apologises-gender-neutral-toilets.html

The only reason he apologised is the fees. Nobody cares if pupils are uncomfortable if the parents aren't paying fees

That could cause a number of security problems staff and pupils using the same toilets

I did a day of supply in a high school a few years ago and toilets were shared between all pupils and staff. The cubicles weren't fully floor to ceiling and I found it a terrible set up. I refused to go back for that reason.

As a teacher I've not really come across it either but know it happens. I left school in 2008 .

Goodness. Many decades of teaching and I've yet to come across girls bullying girls for having periods. Yes girls bully for all sorts of reasons but bullying other girls for having periods?

Chicken's post below highlights very powerfully why vulnerable girls may not disclose to adults their real feelings about being forced to share toilets with boys.

@juells.

I know .When I was in secondary school aged 12 and started my period the older girls used to peer over the stalls and laugh when opening the wrappers. They were quite intimidating.

I also find that the girls on their period are bullied less by the boys than the girls for some strange reason.

What strange universe do people live in, where girls bully other girls for having a period? Genuine question.

I also find that the girls on their period are bullied less by the boys than the girls for some strange reason. To the pp who thought it was cruel not to let primary children go to the toilet it really isn't a problem as they have a break every two hours.

I have been really impressed with how the mixed sex toilets has worked even though I did have reservations to begin with.

My kids go to a school with unisex toilets. Just asked them if they mind it being a boys and girls toilet. Dd, 7 said 'I really don't care.' but it's all she knows so I'm not sure if she would feel differently if she was used to separate toilets.

My kids are still at infant school - each classroom has a partitioned off area with three infant sized toilet cubicles in it, then handwashing sinks at the corner of the main classroom part. One cubicle is designated girls, one boys, one girls and boys... the girls all try to avoid using the mixed cubicle because "the boys make it stinky". Means basically you have one girls cubicle and two side by side boys cubicles for faffing about chatting to your mate peering over the edge and being generally silly.

They had these in my dds infant school. She had a willy waved at her aged 5 and the owner also pulled his foreskin back to show her.
Yes they are only little but not nice nonetheless.

Oh and the urine. The boys would piss everywhere. It stank, it was disgusting.

They did this temporarily when I was at school whilst they were remodelling the boys toilets. It was absolutely fucking horrible. Boys were peering under the stalls, seeing girls change their pads, laughing about "the fish smell", one boy even brought in a skeleton key so he could unlock the doors, which he did with a team of mates standing behind him then they all laughed hysterically at whatever poor girl was sat on the toilet. Quite a few girls broke down crying. It was relentless. Not to mention the constant bra snapping. And no one ever told them off. "You just have to get on with it for now!" One teacher snapped.

Any women or girls forced to use mixed sex facilities at work or school should flush all used sanitary products down the loo in protest. It shouldn’t take too long for those in charge to get the point.

You're absolutely right. I will do that because she can't be the only girl who feels like that.

SteadyOn- you should put that in a letter to the head and governors straight away.

DD1's school has a setup where there is a long row of sinks and then open archways to cubicles divided by sex so sort of mixed and sort of single. She says that the wee from the boys' side often floods over to the girls' side and it makes her not use the loo at school or drink enough water. I think she would be healthier and happier with completely single sex toilets.