To think staff shouldn't have to share toilets with the students?

[TalentedMsRipley]

I work in a sixth form college and staff are expected to share loos with the students. I hate it. I hate being on my period in a cubicle trying to change sanitary wear knowing the girls I have just taught(& boys who "identify as female- a whole other thread) are in the cubicle next to me. None of the other teachers seem to mind?! AIBU?

Yabu. You're a teacher, that doesn't make your students below you as people.

@TalentedMsRipley

Hmmm, I have mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, they are young adult women and should be treated as such (i.e. allowed to share toilets with other women, even those who teach them).

On the other hand, sixth formers can be very immature still and I understand why you'd feel uncomfortable.

Then I guess you need to consider it from the students' perspective. They might not want their teachers to know when they're on their period either.

At the college I worked at previously, we had a set of staff toilets but we were able to use the student toilets as well. It was a nice compromise because most of us did just end up using the student toilets but there were exclusively staff toilets for when you needed to be away from students for whatever reason. Might this be something you would suggest to the head?

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest. You use toilets in cubicles next to people in public loos all the time. I don't see what difference it makes that you've 'just taught them' and I can assure you they are not remotely interested in whatever you're doing in the toilet.

And remember that in 6th form most will also be having a period. Your period isn't more important or private than theirs.

It’s a safeguarding issue. Even if they are over 16, 6th form students are still classed as vulnerable and it puts you in an awkward position.

This isn’t new. When I was at sixth form decades ago teachers and students shared toilets. They are adults at 16-18 and should be expected to behave as such.

I’m guessing the girls have guessed you get periods once a month the same as they do and wouldn’t think twice about it at that age.

No idea re the biological male, maybe they are in there changing theirs also as I understand many sanpro are now being rebranded to be trans friendly although why the fuck anyone without a period would want to use sanpro I have no idea. It would be like a biological woman deciding to use them when not actually having a period, just for the hell of it. Mind boggling.

How ridiculous...

You need to deal with the fact you apprarently view your period as degrading or humiliating in some way.

That's your issue, not the shared toilets.

I’ve just been checking. Separate toilet facilities for staff must be provided under the D of E Standatfs for School Premises or in the case of academies & 6th form colleges the Education (Independent School Standards) England Regulations 2012

Omg no. As a safeguarding lead this immediately rung alarms bells. Separate toilets always.
Has this always been the case op? I’d be speaking to my union (and I’m definitely not someone who normally recommends this)

The DFE guidance states should but the legislation states Must according to the NEU website

YANBU I’d find it uncomfortable too.

I would expect them to be separate for under 18 colleges. They always have been where I have taught.

No idea re the biological male, maybe they are in there changing theirs also as I understand many sanpro are now being rebranded to be trans friendly although why the fuck anyone without a period would want to use sanpro I have no idea. It would be like a biological woman deciding to use them when not actually having a period, just for the hell of it. Mind boggling.

@HoppingPavlova Trans men may have periods.