Ashmount Primary, Islington - mixed toilets

[IdealisticCynic]

We have to submit our primary school applications this week. Ashmount Primary in Islington is very close by and the grounds and results are excellent. There were lots of good things about the school (though the strech programme doesn't look great). However, when we visited, the head made a comment during the tour which I found worrying. He said that he had changed all the toilets so they were mixed gender last year and then laughingly commented "I can't quite believe I got away with that". It has made DH and I worry about sending our daughter there. Does this suggest that the head pushed through against the objection of parents? Or hasn't really told the parents? Could that happen with other decisions?
Futher, I work with victims of abuse, and know how important it is for children - especially girls - to learn bodily autonomy and personal boundaries as early as possible - to allow them to defend them. I have no issue with mixed loos when they are 5 -7, but after that age, I do worry about it - especially all the way up to 11 when so many girls these days have early onset puberty and may get their periods.
We are now thinking of not applying to the school at all. But is that insane given that it is otherwise a very good school? WWYD? I'd love to hear from parents with children there at the moment too.

This would tell me all I needed to know about this Head. Many years ago when looking for schools for my DD, we visited our nearest school which was highly though of. At the time, my DD attended a University nursery and most of the children were of overseas students so there was a wide mix of ethnicities.
Whilst talking to the Head of the prospective school before he showed us round, I asked if the school had a similar ethnic diversity (as to me that was important). He replied that I needn’t worry about that, ‘we don't have any “Indians” in our school’
Needless to say, we didn't put that school down as a choice.

I wouldn’t send my child there. A red flag.. a man laughing about a loophole that breaks the boundaries for girls? No.

I would have told him then and there. I would have stopped the tour and said thank you. And what pp said.. that tells you all you need to know about this man. Does he care about the need for single sex spaces? Clearly not.

There is no way I would allow my daughter to go to a school where the head thinks it’s funny that little girls don’t have safe single sex spaces. And also.. maybe the boys don’t want the girls in the toilet either!

I’m an adult woman and I hate mixed toilets.

Yes, that attitude does concern me. However I am reasonably comfortable in my ability to teach my DD about her own boundaries given my work. So my main issue is whether a head who is like that on one issue, is worth dismissing given he was genuinely good on other aspects of education and childcare.

I would say keep your eyes open for other red flags. Because, while I’m sure he’s great at teaching, that is not something to just brush off and excuse because of his role as head master. Maybe it is just one small one off. But whenever I hear about this happening and boundaries being pushed, then there is always more to come. I hope I’m wrong here.

Laughing about doing away with single sex spaces… yeah I would have my binoculars out to observe other potentially boundary breaking policies and going ons at the school.

Just be vigilant and if you see anything of concern definitely address it. There have been horror stories coming out of America about what happens in mixed sex toilets.

Definitely a red flag @IdealisticCynic, and not only for the head's seemingly cavalier approach to a safeguarding issue. Schools in the UK are required by law to provide separate single-sex toilet facilities for children over the age of 8. Mixed-sex school toilets are only legal if facilities are arranged as self-contained rooms which can be secured from the inside by a single occupant (i.e. similar to most public disabled toilets).
Guidance here

If the school hasn't rebuilt their old boys' and girls' facilities but has simply relabelled existing toilets with rows of cubicles as "mixed gender", they are in breach of the law - and either the head is ignorant of his legal obligations, or else he is aware of the law but choosing to ignore it for his own motives. Neither scenario is a great advertisement for the school.

Bloody disgrace and shows just how girls are viewed in the school. I’d run a mile from a school like that. Utterly depressing and the very opposite of progress.

It's against the law... should be reported. And no, I would not trust the head to have my daughter's best interest at heart.

Its always been seen as a liberal school. First name basis etc. Its a mix bag. Some very middle class kids and some from terrible homes with lots of issues.
Lots and lots of parents from the creative sector.
The toilet thing would make me not put it down. It won't be just the toilets. Itll be lots of things, that's just what you saw. Sadly I think most schools will be like this soon, but if you live near ashmount, you have some great alternatives.

I don't think I like the sound of this @IdealisticCynic. Sure, 4-7 kids can share but not after, ideally.

On this topic, and not wanting to hijack, what are people's views on boys and girls changing for PE in the classroom together in years 4/5/6? Our school does this and I'm not comfortable with it.

yes. I would be looking for other red flags as well. This HT may be well-meaning, but has forgotten what safeguarding is all about. Or simply doesn't care.

@SantasExitStratgey every school does this. I don't know anyone that likes it. Especially in Y6.

@SantasExitStratgey all the schools I know have slightly different PE arrangements for Yr5/6 as some girls will be developing and some will have periods

@IdealisticCynic our school was rebuilt. The toilets were unisex.
However, the junior girls hated it.as a result of student feedback they made some boys and other sets girls. the girls hated the mess and smell of the boys and wanted privacy. Defo by Yr 5/6
The attitude of the HT makes me think the childrens welfare isn't put first.
(Infants are fine mixed IME)

@SantasExitStratgey at my DCs primary the children wear their kits to school on PE days in years 5 & 6, as it was decided that changing together wasn’t ideal but there’s not enough space or time to have them changing separately. Younger years change together in their classrooms.