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Original poster

Children suddenly changing separately for PE

29 replies

PeachPizza · 14/05/2022 11:56

Eldest DD is in Y4 and this week for PE she said the boys and girls have started changing separately for PE.

The girls had to change in a very small hallway where they hang their bags. She said it was difficult.

I thought it weird that this change occurred in the middle of a term.

They are currently learning about puberty in PSHE so I don't know if that's why the change?

Or if this is the age they separate the genders now (I was Y6) or if it could be because of something else? Should I be concerned? Should the school have said something?

OP posts:
RainCoffeeBook · 14/05/2022 11:57

It's usually the age they start getting shy, so yeah. Separate areas. Same in our school.

TeenPlusCat · 14/05/2022 11:59

Well as long as they separate by sex and not gender.
It normally happens at some point y4-5 doesn't it, dependent on when the children or their parents start feeling uncomfortable.
Can't see anything to worry about myself unless you know different.

Original poster
PeachPizza · 14/05/2022 12:00

Ah great thank you. So maybe the teachers have noticed discomfort with some of the kids and acted on it.

They have amazing teacher and TA at the moment so I wouldn't put it past them to have made a judgement call like that. Just seemed young compared to my memory of primary school.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeachPizza · 14/05/2022 12:01

TeenPlusCat · 14/05/2022 11:59

Well as long as they separate by sex and not gender.
It normally happens at some point y4-5 doesn't it, dependent on when the children or their parents start feeling uncomfortable.
Can't see anything to worry about myself unless you know different.

Not sure if this reply was based on me somehow making a faux pas in my first post?

Apologies if I did.

But in her class currently all the children's sex and gender are the same so it's for now a non-issue.

OP posts:
PumpkinsandKittens · 14/05/2022 12:02

my son said the other day that his school has only just made the boys and girls change separate, he is in year 5, what do you have a problem with? Personally I wish they had done it sooner I think end of year 5 is too late

Original poster
PeachPizza · 14/05/2022 12:03

PumpkinsandKittens · 14/05/2022 12:02

my son said the other day that his school has only just made the boys and girls change separate, he is in year 5, what do you have a problem with? Personally I wish they had done it sooner I think end of year 5 is too late

I didn't have a problem. I just was expecting it to be a change that would happen at the start/end of a term I guess.

OP posts:
TeenPlusCat · 14/05/2022 12:04

The first line of my reply was just dropping in the point that unfortunately these days with children we all need to be very careful whether we are talking about separating by sex or gender. One is perfectly sensible, the other throws safeguarding and the feelings of girls out of the window.

Suprima · 14/05/2022 12:09

Absolute waste of time them changing in school anyway. Timetables are already full and it cuts into a PE lesson’s actual learning time.

Our school has a PE uniform of white polo, navy or black joggers/shorts/leggings and then the option of wearing the school sweater on top. They very rarely get sweaty enough to be pongy anyway- unless they are doing sprints or running.

Clymene · 14/05/2022 12:09

I wonder whether there is a girl in your child's class who has started her periods?

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 14/05/2022 12:11

Its probably because one of the parents has raised it with the school, so they're doing this now in response.
Maybe one of the children has begun to show signs of puberty so needs more privacy.

Awalkintime · 14/05/2022 12:15

It could've been children asking for privacy or parents asking. It could also be a response to development. We recently had a Y3 child start their periods so this might've triggered the response from staff to act and ensure privacy for the children.

Confrontayshunme · 14/05/2022 12:15

My Dd and several other tall girls started puberty in Year 4, and I and other mums campaigned for separate changing rooms the day she said she began to feel uncomfortable. They split them up a week later. We would NEVER expect 11 year olds growing breasts to share with the opposite sex, so neither should we with 8-9 year olds, even if age wise they are still very much children.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 14/05/2022 12:19

They changed separately at ds's school in year 4 too and that was years and years ago.

felineweird · 14/05/2022 12:22

They wear their PE kits to school where my kids go, seems far more sensible

TheCanyon · 14/05/2022 12:27

At our school they start using the changing rooms from p3 so age 6/7.

RingRingRed · 14/05/2022 12:29

Same here @felineweird

When dd1 old school did this I always made sure she wore a singlet top on PE day. Totally shit to make them get changed.

PumpkinsandKittens · 14/05/2022 12:32

Some schools don’t allow them to wear their PE kit to school though, ours doesn’t,

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 14/05/2022 12:32

Well as long as they separate by sex and not gender.

My eyes hurt from how hard they’re rolling.

SpaceJamtart · 14/05/2022 12:37

I did hate it in the last two years of primary, we all had to change at our desks and in a small room and a class of 35 there was no privacy at all. Wasn't even that there were boys for me, I had lots of brothers so never cared about that, it was that there was 34 other kids and a teacher. I remember the deputy head coming in while we were changing to talk to a few of us about a recycling program, it was very embarrassing at the time. I do wish they had thought to give us any kind of privacy

BusyMum47 · 14/05/2022 12:59

We get all of our year groups to come to school in their PE kit on their PE lesson days - so much easier, no wasted time & no issues about who changes where!

CantTalkFacts · 14/05/2022 13:35

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 14/05/2022 12:32

Well as long as they separate by sex and not gender.

My eyes hurt from how hard they’re rolling.

Do you not think this is important or do you just not understand the significance of how important it is to be clear in the language used when it comes to sex and gender?

CantTalkFacts · 14/05/2022 13:39

CantTalkFacts · 14/05/2022 13:35

Do you not think this is important or do you just not understand the significance of how important it is to be clear in the language used when it comes to sex and gender?

Show quote history

hit post too soon…

and that separation based on sex should be the default in this scenario?

Whatwouldscullydo · 14/05/2022 13:39

Why would you need to be concerned. Boys and girls should have privacy from eachother when changing.

Many schools don't have changing rooms so they need to improvise. Dd1 and the other girls would take themselves off to the kitchen to get changed.

Its not really something that needs to be run by parents. Yr 4 is a bit late imo. Its obvious why surely ?

Nanny0gg · 14/05/2022 13:42

PeachPizza · 14/05/2022 12:00

Ah great thank you. So maybe the teachers have noticed discomfort with some of the kids and acted on it.

They have amazing teacher and TA at the moment so I wouldn't put it past them to have made a judgement call like that. Just seemed young compared to my memory of primary school.

There is a chance one of them has started her period too

ISpyCobraKai · 14/05/2022 13:43

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 14/05/2022 12:32

Well as long as they separate by sex and not gender.

My eyes hurt from how hard they’re rolling.

I'm please it was mentioned as its incredibly important.

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