Pupils protest over unisex toilets in schools

[Justme56]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11802555/TikTok-protests-rock-Britains-schools-Pupils-scale-gates-trash-classrooms-rules.html

I've just scanned through and noticed this:
"Meanwhile, a parent said their daughter felt so uneasy about sharing a toilet with boys that she has stopped going to the toilet during school hours."

Not sure why girl's should have to share toilets with boys.

Taken from the DfE's 'Standards for school premises'
"Separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over must be provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time."
www.gov.uk/guidance/standards-for-school-premises

Is it that any girl only toilets are not in a convienient location (too far away), or is it because of boys saying that they are girls and entering the girl's toilets?

It's not clear in the report, is it? They call the toilets 'unisex' but also 'same-sex'. Not obvious whether they have two separate sets in one school, or just got the terms in the report muddled.

What schools are doing is classifying cubicles like this, as they have done in my DSs secondary.
Of course, there were never open plan toilets in which everyone used in full view, so it's a pretty bad interpretation of the guidance.

@TheGreatATuin See, now I didn't even think of that - classifying cubicles like that. That really is some kind of gymnastics interpretation of the regs surely. Have you thought about contacting the DfE directly and asking if that is compliant with regulations?

Looks like it is allowed. Missed this bit "Where there is unisex provision (under ISS 23A (1) (b) or SPR 4 (2)), the privacy of the occupant needs to be ensured and this will be achieved by, for example, having adequate enclosure and a full height door."

That's what they have at the school my DD will be going to - an open area with a wash basin in the middle and about 5 cubicles each side. I think they all had full height doors. Only sanitary disposal in the cubicles on one side. I was wondering today how it is for the girls when they have their periods, and if they flood and need to clean themselves up....

Maisy I think these are different schools and it's spreading(?)

Red card passes - wtaf?!

Red Card Passes?? Are they seriously making girls carry them. Talk about period shaming. The boys will be brutal when they know a girl is having a period. Have any of these people actually been to school with teenage boys?

Here's the Safe Schools Alliance's template letter on mixed-sex toilet provision: safeschoolsallianceuk.net/resources-2/letter-templates/#Mixed-sex_Toilets_letter