To complain about school mixed toilets?

[flashbac]

I'm in two minds about this...

Daughter is in year 7. Toilets are mixed. The area housing the cubicles opens out into the corridor. The cubicles have either green or blue coloured doors; blue for boys and green for girls but this isn't signposted. Children are told on their first day which colour is for which.
My daughter hardly uses the loo at school (thankfully) but she will accompany friends to the toilet area if they need to go. No one in her year group have started their periods yet. She says she is uncomfortable if year 11 boys are using the loos at the same time.

I'm not sure what to do really. The school is an academy in a semi deprived northern town in England. Senior staff are young suited and booted car salesmen type blokes. Sorry that sounds judge-y but need to set the scene.

Diagram attached (note: that brown stain is colouring pencil and not something else!)

DD says doors are floor to ceiling. No sinks in cubicles. Girls' side has sanitary bins in them. Toilet area opens onto corridor.

I'd be so worried about UTIs if my DD didn't feel she could go into the toilets during the day - they can have bottles of water in the classrooms and so they do get through quite a lot of water. Please complain. I'm sure you're not alone.

Even noone in the friendship group having started periods is a bit unlikely I think. More likely the mixed sex toilet thing is making them all embarrassed about things like that and keep it hidden.

Do they have missed sex toilets for the teachers I wonder?

I can't see why they can't give the girls just a little bit of their own space to squeeze a spot or put in a bit of makeup in a boy-free space :(

I'd complain, but meantime could your DD ask to go during lessons when it's likely to be quieter? If everyone keeps asking to do that it might make a bit of a point as well

As far as I know the sinks out in the communal area makes the set up illegal.

What the heck is “woke” other than ( awake)

Had to google. Flipping stupid slang, proving I’m not “woke”
Hate this garbage
I also hate the concept and actuality of mixed sex toilets

As far as I know the sinks out in the communal area makes the set up illegal.

You are correct.

Pink what I wouldn’t give to not know the word “woke”. Even my job is a constant battle not to choke on the woke.

OP, I think Handsoffmyrights has given a great list.

Ive seen this kinds of toilets in schools, they are perfectly safe. The cubicles are floor to ceiling and they lock. They are similar in style to the way disabled toilets in shopping centres designed - single, private, toilets. The open plan, on to a corridor, design ensures there is no where for pupils to loiter because they are on a corridor. Reduces the risk of bullying but completely safe and secure.

Many school have mixed facilities.

We have cubicles for either sex and basins and driers outside.

Bullying in this area has been reduced, it is easier for staff to check one area, the footfall is higher so less likely for students to hide here or do drugs. Boys hygiene and habits have improved. Less deliberate blocking of toilets as girls appear more likely to speak up when boys are being silly sometimes. There are more cubicles now and less smell.

There are several different versions some more open than others.

Have pp missed the point about it being illegal?!

This is against the law, but we think it works, so we are doing it anyway.

I would complain. She is uncomfortable and to be fair it’s a bit wierd. Green and blue?? They retain the blue but dump what I would think would have been pink and mix the loos? What’s that about? Anyway from 8 legally a school must provide sex segregated toilets for obvious reasons of privacy. If they don’t I would be pointing that out to them. Both sexes deserve privacy and dignity. I’m presuming these cubicles go from floor to ceiling and are fully enclosed in the mixed area? If not i would be very very unhappy. I wouldn’t want the kids peeking under. Or over and annoying each-other which some definitely will.it happens in my kids separate sex loos at school, so your school is just making that even easier.

Sinks can be shared they do not need to be inside each toilet cubicle.

I wonder if that's the school I did 1 day of supply at. I refused to go back, as if it's the same school staff were also expected to use the same toilets (there was only 1 staff toilet in reception).

Awful. I don't understand this obsession with mixed sex facilities.

Bullying in this area has been reduced, it is easier for staff to check one area, the footfall is higher so less likely for students to hide here or do drugs. Boys hygiene and habits have improved. Less deliberate blocking of toilets as girls appear more likely to speak up when boys are being silly sometimes. There are more cubicles now and less smell

So in a nut shell , girls being used for behaviour management has now been extended to the toilets. Fuck their safety and dignity...

Our college has loos like this. Each one separate with floor to ceiling doors. There is a a corridor down the middle of the room and shared sinks. Even with the full length doors I hate being in a mixed space and end up going to the loo in a different building which has separate facilities. There is something very uncomfortable about it and I have a feeling of vulnerability when I am in there. I have complained and I encourage you to complain on behalf of your daughter and other girls.

If it were illegal, surely the school would never get planning permission? Girls mess around in loos too, not just boys. Having actually seen these toilets, and as a mum of two girls, I think this is a none issue.

Stonewall and ilk miss represent the equality act when they "advise/train" schools in this stuff...

Hence why they go ahead...

I think the setup looks fine. What's the problem? The shared sinks??

They'll share sinks in other places in school- the art rooms etc.

Schools are much more likely to create these loos from a behaviour/wellbeing pov than gender equality.

Sorry I hate vile language. Discussion fine, vile language no way.

So one mention of the f word which incidentally as a retail worker is thrown at me on a very regular basis and no discussion about the opening up of single sex spaces as a lazy way to deal with behavioural issues despite the discomfort of girls and their safety being compromised...

Do girls mean so little to you ?

I would be complaining on a daily basis.