Parents force U-turn over gender-neutral primary school toilets

Parents force U-turn over gender-neutral primary school toilets

A primary school which made its toilets gender neutral without informing parents has been forced into a u-turn following outrage. 

Moredon Primary School, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, opened its shared bathrooms to all pupils regardless of gender but did not modify them.

It meant the urinals in the boys' toilets remained in use, despite girls being allowed in, sparking fury among some parents who branded the move as 'stupid' and said the school was 'pushing liberal views on the kids.' 

Speaking anonymously, a mother of an eight-year-old who attends the school said: 'No one knew about it until the children were coming home and telling everyone - apparently they are the first school to do it in Swindon.

'My child is eight and the first I heard was when he come home and told us there was a little girl in the toilet while he was using the urinal.

'I also heard that there was a little girl with autism who was upset and scared, as a little boy went in and was watching her while she was on the toilet.'

Parents said they have struggled to get answers from the interim headteacher and safeguarding lead Anna Willcox, who has stopped spending her mornings on the playground since the change was brought in.

The school later made the decision to revert the toilets back to how they were, separate for girls and boys. There are also unisex toilets on site. 

In a statement, headteacher Anna Wilcox said: 'At Moredon Primary and Nursery School, we believe in equality for all children in all aspects of school life.

'The school was challenged by an external body about the toilet facilities and making sure they were inclusive for all groups of children. 

'With the best of intentions, for two days we made a change to school policy.

'On reflection, we recognised that whilst our intentions were right, we didn't take the best approach.

'We've listened and taken on board the feedback from some of our parents and made a further adjustment to our policy.

'We now have both unisex and single sex toilets in school. 

'As a school, we will continue to strive for an equitable provision that allows for freedom of choice whilst maintaining and respecting individual privacy.'

 

 



 

 

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