Shrewsbury school's unisex loos spark privacy fears
A single sex toilet block at a county school has been replaced with unisex loos – to the anger of parents who say their children are too embarrassed to use them.
The new loos have been put in at Meole Brace School in Shrewsbury for a three-month trial.
Headteacher Hilary Burke said the idea had come from the school's student council as a way of improving one of the toilet blocks. But parents are distinctly unimpressed, saying most of the youngsters are keeping clear.
As a result there are now big queues at the single sex toilets.
Vickie McFarland, from Shrewsbury, said on Facebook: "It's a whole big cubicle with separate toilets with doors, but it's unisex.
"I'm actually disgusted at this and can't believe the school has done this.
"From what I hear most of the kids don't want to use it."
Michelle Asterley, from Shrewsbury, added: "My son was really uncomfortable about it. Not sure whose idea that was but I can see it causing a lot of problems."
Ian Caine Smith, from Shrewsbury, said: "Who comes up with these ideas? There are other toilets.
"But there are now massive queues, so hygiene is going to go down the pan.
"There are non-unisex, but queues are massive now as nobody will use the unisex."
Sarah Hart, from Underdale, added: "It sounds dreadful.
"It could be a big negative against sending my daughter there next year. Teenage girls need their privacy.
"The real issue is about privacy and kids feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious. Unisex loos could create more potential for mickey taking and bullying."
But Mrs Burke said the change was the result of discussions with pupils on the student council.
"They wanted this dark area to be transformed in to a lighter and brighter space," she said.
Mrs Burke continued: "We have changed a small toilet area into individual toilet cubicles which have floor to ceiling partitions. They can be used by anyone and there is a communal sink area.
"We are trialling this until Christmas and this is just a small part of the toilets area that are available to pupils.
"They are not directed to use any particular toilet area and this is a very small part of our toilet capacity within the school.
"Eighty per cent of our toilets are traditional single sex facilities."
She said five parents contacted her about the issue and their anxieties were resolved when she discussed the matter with them.
