Another school has opened today with gender neutral toilets

[Womaninnit]

I’ve name changed because identifying

My local Facebook group has just descended into disarray because today the much anticipated (and generally thought to be pretty great) new secondary school has moved to its new campus (they’ve been in temporary until now) - and Lo and behold, it has gender neutral toilets. (FWIW they have floor to ceiling doors, all have sanitary disposal and they have shared sinks.)

I don’t know what to say: I’d love my DCs to go there. I’m GC and I’ve posted under other names on here.

I haven’t contributed to the debate because the ‘anti’ people have all piled on with really stupid comments and nobody is doing themselves any favours. The ‘anti’ people are coming across as bigoted, stupid, uneducated, and you’d never know they live in the centre of the worlds most diverse city! I agree with them but I don’t know how to comment on this in the most sane way.

I also happen to know some of the management of the school and I plan to speak privately with them.

How are we ever going to solve this ?

The school is breaking the law.

See the last paragraph of this document
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/719398/Gender-separation-guidance.pdf

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.

Previous threads on this:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3359458-Mixed-Sex-Toilets-in-Schools?pg=1

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3357167-unisex-school-toilets-daughter-refusing-to-use-them

Shared sinks is awful. Think of the logistics of dealing with periods, and then needing to share a sink with boys. Yuck. The cubicles should have washing and drying facilities in them, if they insist on going this route.
Is this school in London by any chance?

If they are breaking the law like another post says, then mention it because the school are possibly unaware. The shared toilets could cause a problem, it's a secondary school and kids are going through puberty. Girls are getting periods and everyone is developing sexually. They are unmonitored too so who knows what could happen.

Look at the anti side too, try to find some people that aren't being stupid because there'll be someone. Talk to other parents of children there, see what everyone else thinks. Talk to your children too, see what they think.

If they are breaking the law like another post says, then mention it because the school are possibly unaware.

My understanding of the legislation for English schools is that unless it is a completely self-contained facility (with washbasin inside the lockable cubicle), then the toilets have to be single sex. But I am not a lawyer.

I'm not sure about legislation in the rest of the UK.

It's the law as others have said. Last para in the attached guidance and it states that separate toilet and washing facilities must be provided.

Also - did the school consult with children? What were the results? (they won't have asked them - they never do). Have they conducted risk assessments? How are they meeting the needs of children with religious objections to sharing facilities ? Where are these children to go?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/719398/Gender-separation-guidance.pdf

Finally, this school also 'forgot' to consult with children:
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4987780/Headmaster-apologises-gender-neutral-toilets.html

Stick to the facts. Ask them what their impact assessment said, and why they are breaking the law.

Say you think that everyone should wear whatever they want (gender neutral uniform policy) but that bathrooms are about the privacy of sexed bodies.

This school would hardly seem to be able to uphold a GC approach and equity of access for girls - and not just to toilets I make up...

BTW the preferred term is mixed sex toilets, not gender neutral

This is useful: womansplaceuk.org/mixed-sex-toilets-ins-chools/

If you are in Scotland, these are the regulations: scottish-women.com/2018/08/28/where-did-gender-neutral-toilets-in-schools-come-from/

Please challenge it. If parents (and pupils, if they feel able) don't speak up, nothing will change.

@Justagirlwholovesaboy
Yes it has happened, my child is not at this school so there’s a limit to how involved I can get. This won’t be the only school opening this term with similar facilities.