Further information on mixed sex toilets at Dreghorn Primary School
Dear North Ayrshire Council,
With regards to the desion to install mixed sex toilet facilities at Dreghorn primary school:
1) Please provide a copy of the impact assessment you undertook prior to making this decision. I refer specifically to the impact of using mixed sex facilities on the safety and privacy of female students. For example, what consideration has been given to the specific biological needs of girls?
2) How have you assessed the physical and psychological impact on female students of being forced to share toilets with males? Please provide details of all the steps you will be taking to mitigate the negative impact of mixed sex toilets on female students which have been seen in other areas of the UK where these have already been introduced. I refer to reports of girls missing school during their period and deliberately dehydrating themselves in order to not have to urinate in the presence of boys.
3) Plan UK International have recently found that between 48 and 56% of girls (depending on age) experience period shaming at school. What are you doing to counteract this and how can you ensure that mixed sex facilities will help reduce this? How do you plan to ensure that young girls who are just getting used to menstruation can deal with this in privacy and with dignity? Have you ensured that the mixed sex toilets have private, enclosed wash spaces where girls can deal with accidents relating to menstruation discreetly?
4) ERIC, the children’s bowel and bladder charity has pointed out that lack of privacy is one of the obstacles to children using school toilets. Therefore, children can try to limit toilet usage which has a negative effect on their ability to learn, their behavior, morale and attendance levels. ERIC points to the School Premises and Regulations (2012) as best practice which outlines single-sex toilet provision is essential for over 8-year-olds. Similar provision in Scottish schools is mandated for by the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967.
5) Please confirm how many toilets are designated for girls and how many are designated for boys.
6) Are the individual cubicles floor to celling enclosed?
7) Finally, please confirm whether your mixed sex policy will also be extended to changing facilities and sleeping accommodation on residential trips and the safeguarding and impact assessments you have completed in relation to this.
Yours faithfully,
Nikkii McGowan
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Dear Nikkii McGowan
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