Separate changing rooms in primary.

No, it's actually a very good and effective school and my ds is very happy there. The boy in question isn't being bullied, most of the kids have known him for years and he is accepted as who he is. He does have only female friends but the boys don't bully him. At Primary, his mother was up every 5 minutes complaining about some perceived slight even though, his sexuality aside he is quite an unpleasant and rude boy. Again, that's probably down to his mother who I am in no doubt has been up to school again demanding he is allowed to change separately etc.

What an ineffective school. that boyshould be safe amongst his Male peers . they should be dealing with the homophobia not singling him out fir being gay then dumping the problem.on the girls. Every time he takes a place on the team a girl loses out. That's really unfair

I think it's a mess Bbq1 . Being gay shouldn't be a reason to do PE with girls . But schools have been so targeted and gaslit by adult lobby groups spinning them mangled versions of stonewall law and their own inappropriate demands that they have lost (some) of their professional skills and competence in dealing with teenagers.
Maybe they aren't dealing with bullying in the boy's changing rooms? Maybe he is very vulnerable and they're trying to support him? Who knows. Making policy for all children around individual children is always problematic - but finding thoughtful solutions that protect all children is to be welcomed.

This isn't really relevant but I wonder what people think of it...Boy my ds was at Primary with and now at the same Secondary. The boy has been openly gay since Year 5. They are now in Year 9. The boy has said he wants a sex change when he's older. As a result, the boy is being allowed to change for pe in the disabled toilet rather than the Male changing rooms and is also allowed to do pe with the girls. This is crazy and I totally disagree with this. Whst do others think?

It's quite a few years since my son was at Primary, but from what I recall, boys and girls started to change in separate areas from the start of Yr 5.

But this is about primary school, where they don't get sweaty, don't get hugely muddy, and don't have showers.

In Reception and KS1, they do, unfortunately, need to get changed at school, because this is a life skill that many are no longer being taught at home. But in KS2 it's a different matter. Both because it's a skill they've already mastered and because of issues of privacy.

And I was agreeing that, if they're staying in PE kit all day, they might as well come in it already.

late
Did you get the period documentation too?

Thanks for the info all. It's a long time since I was at school, and def had to shower. It's one of the most hideous, embarrassing, awful memories from (secondary) school.
I'm glad they've stopped that, and hope they stop the getting charged together thing, that's probably grim for most kids.

The following is an anecdotal tangent to explain why I asked;
Showers after PE from decades ago
We'd have to leave our towel at the 'out' end, before trying to get back, unseen, to the 'in' end, and walk through the shower corridor with our PE teacher watching (to make sure we washed) before handing us our towel. I guess I should be grateful that we were still sex segregated.

No showers at my DD's primary. Not sure if there are any at the High School, but even if there are I doubt that they get used. Privacy being a main issue and time another - there won't be any time actually allowed in the schedule for a shower/hair dry etc.

Ours is a small school - every room has been already used for library, pc corners etc. Instead there is a smart pe kit and on the 2 pe days of the week they wear that and no changing required...

Juniors have to do swimming for at least a term so it's not unavoidable.

My kids school separate from y3. Their old school also used to separate but they had pe at the same time as the other class so the boys would all change in one room and the girls in the other.

Even in y6, kids sometimes get wet or muddy so need a change of clothing

No showers in secondary or primary round here

No showers in primary school usually. I don’t think many do at secondary either.

Oh, and you won't find hard and fast rules about this specifically, but read the school's safeguarding policy with PE changing in mind and what you need to back you up will be in there, I'm sure.

It's really creul to expect girls who could be developing to change alongside boys

Is free completely but it's not that great for the boys either,I remember my ds being very relieved the school split them up to change. From year 5 they had proper changing rooms and from year 4 they did as a pp posted- used another areas to change.

They need to change separately by Y5, for sure, not be waiting until some poor girl starts stressing and not wanting to go in on PE days.

Y4 feels about right to keep everyone feeling safe and comfortable. Children's dignity is important. You are not being 'that parent' if you raise it.

I thought kids showered after PE, so where do they change after a shower? Or is that only older years?

(And if they still shower, would also explain why PE kit is not kept on all day).

My kids get absolutely filthy playing rugby & football & occasionally lacrosse. They have to get changed. The problem with requiring them to stay in sports kit - as suggested by some - is that it limits the sports they can do - no rugby, football or lacrosse. Or kids are inactive enough as it is. We shouldn’t be restricting sports they may like.

When I went to school in the 80s there were changing rooms. It seems to be a recent thing that there arent any. Even when they renovate or build new ones. Its puzzling why no one points out the lack of changing facilities when the designs get approved.

I think kids should be separated when they go up to juniors. It's really creul to expect girls who could be developing to change alongside boys.

@TulipCat well aside from that...obviously. But most other sports are fairly harmless to be fair.

Our school separates them in Y5 and Y6. From talking to friends (incl. teachers) that's quite typical. You should talk to the head about it.

We changed in the classroom when I was at school, it wasn't an issue, my girls changed schools in year 6 but changed it the classroom in year 5

@Lipperfromchipper my boys are currently playing rugby for PE, on a grass pitch. The lesson is at 10am. The kit comes back covered in mud and pretty wet after every session. No way are they wearing that for the rest of school day!

@JellySlice but I mean why can’t they get changed AT HOME...there is no need to have children getting undressed and dressed in school...it just baffles me to be honest!! I see no benefit!!

I have often wondered the same, particularly in primary school.

My dc each had a day at school where they had PE, plus an activity which the school dictated had to be done in PE kit. So they would change into PE kit during morning registration and change back into uniform just before hometime.

Why can children in the uk not just get dressed into their PE clothes that morning??? Honestly...can someone not just answer that question??!!! It would save this WHOLE problem!!