Getting changed for PE in the toilets

[cartblanche]

My DS aged 8 just informed me that the girls and boys alternate getting changed in the toilets once a week ie.1 week the girls stay in the classroom and change into PE kit whilst the boys go into the toilets and the following week vice versa. They all changed in the classroom last school year - I am guessing space is tight and they are now being mindful of the kids getting older and more self-conscious. The toilets are rank - just about fit for purpose but as changing rooms??

Does this happen in other primary schools?

it's often a tricky one ime, as you say, lack of space and these things weren't considered when lots of primaries were built many moons ago. We have a spare classroom/library, and a female member of staff escorts the girls from yr 4 upwards to there to change. The male PE instructor supervises the boys. Staff tend not to stay in the classroom whilst children change, or make themselves busy in the doorway with untying/tying laces, ties, anything needing help really. It's not ideal, but appears better than most it seems.

Exactly the same in dds school when she went into y1

Happens in my school from year four. But I think they get changed in the cloakroom.

Happens in our school too but the toilets are fine.

They would struggle at ours as the toilets are tiny!

DS informs me that each year group in their 2 form PS do PE on the same day. Boys get changed in one classroom, girls in the other. They started this in KS2.

Primary schools simply don't have any space. They have always all got changed together in the classroom but now that some DCs hit puberty earlier they want privacy. There is simply nowhere to go other than a corridor or the toilet. The corridor doesn't give privacy. They are going to waste a lot of the lesson if half have to wait in the corridor for a turn in the classroom.

Leaving half unsupervised is also a nightmare and there is generally only the teacher to supervise them.

Thanks all. So a pretty common occurrence then. It is a shame that there is no spare capacity within the school. It is a 60's build and is literally crumbling away in parts. The toilets are rank because they are old, decrepit and are used by 100s of children on a daily basis. I guess they only get cleaned in the evening.

Even if the school is new there is no space.