Unisex school toilets- daughter refusing to use them

[PerverseConverse]

My eldest has just started at secondary school. The school Facebook group for the school is awash with angry parents saying that they did not know the toilets were unisex. Older parents are saying it's a new thing for this year. I've spoken to my daughter and she says she refuses to use the toilets at school because of this. She can't go 7 hours without a wee and holding it can lead to urinary tract infections. What's the best way to deal with this with the school?

Go in armed with a copy of the equalities act and point out that it is a legal requirement that they provide single sex toilets.

Ive seen a template letter somewhere you can send to the local authority. Im pretty sure its illegal not to have single sex. I will see if i can find it

Croossed post

Go in armed with a copy of the equalities act and point out that it is a legal requirement that they provide single sex toilets.

This - but also, put it in writing to head and the chair of governors.

If the school is part of an LA, put it in writing also to the director if children's services. If part of an academy trust, to the chair of the trust.

Are they open plan toilets? Ie. Unisex cubicles opening out onto a corridor/sink area? Thought that was the norm in schools.

Go in armed with a copy of the equalities act and point out that it is a legal requirement that they provide single sex toilets.

This. If they start spewing ANY nonsense about gender / trans gender / gender identity then you need to make it clear to them that SEX is the protected characteristic, and gender reassignment, which only applies to adults (18+) with a Gender Recognition Certificate. Gender identity IS NOT a protected characteristic.

Also, ask to see the Equality Impact Assessment document which they would have been legally required to complete before abandoning single sex toilet provision.

clarylove seriously? When you were at school you had unisex toilets?

I wouldn't have used the toilets at secondary school if they'd been unisex either.

What’s the physical set up of these toilets?

I don't know how they are set up. I'll ask my daughter in the morning. Some parents are saying that until they rectify it they won't be sending their children in.
I'm assuming there will be disabled facilities that will be like those elsewhere that are a single lockable room and can be used by either sex.

@BossWitch do you mind if I quote you (anonymously) for other parents on the private Facebook page to help them state their case?

What?!

Good grief

Can you network with the other parents to set up a joint meeting? The school might find it harder to dismiss a whole assembly hall full of you than each parent individually.

No probs.

I would have a gander at some of the other threads on this board as well, there's a huge amount of more knowledgeable posters than me!

network with the other parents to set up a joint meeting? The school might find it harder to dismiss a whole assembly hall full of you than each parent individually

This seems like a very good idea.

I would guess the school have been getting their advice from stonewall. Have a mooch through twitter and you'll be able to find some counter arguments to their gumph.

Peverse Found the template letter. Its refering to Scotland though so only partly useful unless you are in Scotland.However makes the same points about the equalities act and impact assessments

It isn't illegal to have unisex toilets in school as long as the cubicle the toilet is in is private (not one of those with a gap under the door etc). See Guidance

In fact unisex toilets have been shown to reduce bullying (as they tend to have a central "open" area).

Can post it if you like

The protected characteristic of Gender Reassignment does not only apply to people with a GRC, so don't say that. It applies to anyone who has undergone, or stated the intention to undergo, any sort of transition to living as the opposite gender (whatever that means).

I've not read anything that suggests it only applies to people aged 18 and over, either.

But certainly sex is a protected characteristic, and you should definitely ask to see the impact assessment carried out by the school before it made this move. Assuming there was one! Sorry to hear that your daughter is so uncomfortable with it, but frankly I don't blame her. I wouldn't like it either.

@Theinconstantgardener yes please

BossWitch

You don't need to have a gender recognition certificate to have the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.

A person has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment if the person is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning the person's sex by changing physiological or other attributes of sex.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/7

But having the PC of gender reassignment just means that you can't be discriminated against for being transgender - it doesn't give you the right to be treated as the opposite sex.

Op, It's illegal. Schools MUSt provide single sex toilets for all children over the age of 8!

Separate toilet and washing facilities must be provided for boys and girls aged 8 years and over pursuant to Regulation 4 of the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012, which falls within
the exemption provided for in Schedule 22 of the Equality Act 2010

It's in this guidance for schools here:
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/719398/Gender-separation-guidance.pdf

Everyone else has said what I have thought so nothing to add except - it's not right, your daughter does not have to put up with unisex toilets!

It depends on the layout. The toilet where I am are unisex but on the left are girls and the right boys - doors to the floor. The sinks are in the middle. We also have separate toilets for any ill/disabled/transgender etc children on the ground floors.

Peverse
Looking at this seems it applies to new or altered builds but here you go anyway. I think pps advice re equality act and impact assessment is more relevant.

Dear
(Name of school
Details of recent building works )
Regulation 15 of The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 clearly states that the Sanitary Accommodation for pupils is to be split half for boys and half for girls There is no reference to unisex toilets within the regulations
The Scottish Government opened a consultation between 17 July 2017 and 9 October 2017 with proposed amendments to these regulations. The analysis of responses to the public consultation exercise by the Scottish Government was reported by them on 10 January 2018.To date no further action has been taken by the Scottish Government and the existing Regulations remain.
It is my understanding therefore that any new buildings or significant alterations to any existing buildings must meet the current Regulations and it would therefore be unlawful for (Name of council) to apply any other standards that do not meet these requirements. The Sanitary accommodation for pupils within (name of school) do not meet Regulations 15 &16 to provide separate facilities for boys and girls. (Name of school instead has -- describe situation ---) It would appear that (name of council) have instead applied their standard of building requirements to those cited within a consultation paper.These proposed requirements are not official, they were merely contained within a consultation paper and no amendments to The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations have been passed through the Scottish Parliament.
I request that you review the current situation within (name of school) as a matter of urgency as (name of council) are in a breach of their their duties by failing to abide by the Regulations which govern school premises.