At what age should boys/girls stop changing in front of each other at school

[star1976]

The reason I ask is because my 11 year old daughter, year 6 at primary school, has started her period today, poor thing!

But she has PE at school tomorrow and I am worried about her having to get changed in front of everyone, especially the boys. She is going to have to wear a sanitary towel and although I have bought the smallest possible am worried that they will be noticable.

She has started developing breasts and I just think that at the stage of development that they are all reaching now they should be changing seperately.

Is it just me that feels this way or do other people agree?

I know that they should all be innocent at that age but I look after boys from her year and know what they talk about so makes me a little apprehensive.

This worries me greatly, I wish more schools would seperate the children earlier but ime primary schools dont tend to prob due to staffing/space issues.

I think if she has a quiet word with the teacher/you write a note she could change in the toilet.

Personally i would write a note excusing her from PE tomorrow if its her first period ever but then i always felt a bit rough/weak during my periods as a teen.

ours are split in yr 5 - totally agree its too much to expect for them to be mixed. Poor poppet, you can ask if she can change in the loo but then you are singling her out! WHat about if she wore a skirt and could slip her pe shorts on before she took it off? They don't always think of these things.
SHe not in any discomfort? My dd is nearly 11, has breasts and I am dreading this day!

I am so glad that it is not just me that thinks this, thanks.

Did think about asking if she could get changed in the toilets but then as you say don't want her bombarded with 29 other kids asking her why! The shorts on then skirt off is a good idea thanks.

Am actually thinking of contacting the school and asking about them being seperated for changing. I just don't think that it is right. And I know that she is not the only one in her year that is going through this, there are other girls that must be feeling the same way.

Absolutely agree they shouldn't be changing in front of each other, period or not. My oldest DD hasn't wanted to change in front of us, never mind boys, since she was about 8!

Have decided that I am going to speak to the school about the children being separated whilst changing.

I am sure that I cannot be the only parent that feels this way.

Definitely speak to the school about this. Your poor DD!

Well I put a letter in my daughters bag this morning and for PE her and the other girl in her class that has started her period were allowed to change behind a screen at the back of the classroom.

Just don't feel that this tackles the issue as a whole, and that they should all be segregated for changing.

Thinking of taking this issue direct to the head now.

talk about making them stand out!

OMG how embarrassing for her! As if starting your period isn't embarrassing enough already!

My DDs are all much younger than yours, but I think that expecting 11 year-olds to change together is wrong. They have a right to privacy, and getting her and the other child to change behind a screen is abysmal.

Perhaps you can ask for a meeting with the head and the teacher together, so it doesn't feel like you are going over the teacher's head?

When I worked as a TA in a mixed Y5/6 class the sexes were split for PE changing - girls changed in the corridor outside and boys in the classroom. Door kept ajar so staff could keep an eye if there was only one member of staff available. Not ideal to be in corridor but did address issues of self-consciousness.

I think that perhaps now onset of puberty is eearlier than it once was, schools need to address this by Y5.

the do the same as sassy at dd's school. from key stage 2 i think

In my dd's yr6 class the boys get changed in the loos'.

I'm amazed that they aren't separated earlier. My dd is only a toddler and it's a bloomin' long time since I left school but I would have taken it for granted that the children changed separately after about 6-7yo. Your poor DD.

My ds is in y2, and afaik they get changed together in the classroom for PE, however they also do swimming this year and the head has expressly said that boys and girls need to be separated for changing for that.

I taught year 6 and either split them so boys changed in the toilets or I made a screen in the classroom. Year 6 should not be made to change in the same room.

I would definitely expect children to get changed separately from about reception onwards.

Reception onwards?
I would say from Yr3 ideally -- some of the plump kids effectively get breasts about then.

We split from Y5 onwards.

I think by Key Stage 2 children need to have some option for privacy. I REALLY don't think Y6 children should have to change in front of each other. I am stunned that is going on anywhere.

In dd's school they separate from Yr 3 onwards. The girls stay in the classroom and the boys use the cloakroom.

Have spoken to DD at length about this and although none of the other children have asked questions about why they are seperated for changing it is only a matter of time.

Also found out that in the other Year 6 class the girls are allowed into the art room to change seperately.

The girls that have started their periods are allowed to use the ladies toilets when needed, and there is a supply of sanitary products available which is good but also singles them out from everyone else. DD has also said that her teacher as been really nice and she found it easy to talk about periods with her.

Clarice - So far DD's period has been very light so have just bought her panty liners as they are the smallest thing I could find. Not sure what I am going to do when they get heavier as you are right they are all just far too big!

Anyway, to tackle the main issue, am meeting with Deputy head today (head is off sick) to say that I feel that they should be seperated for changing much earlier. Also will stress that I have the back up of many parents that I have spoken to (which I do).

Am ready for a fight on this one if need be! Thanks for everyone's advice, is good to know that it isn't me being over protective.

Although having said that I am a childminder and care for many children of different ages (several from year 6) and would NEVER ask them to change in front of each other. So if it would be unacceptable here, why should it be acceptable at school!