PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is denying that it has ‘gender neutral’ toilet facilities in five of its schools, explaining that they are unisex wash facilities with the toilet cubicles themselves being designated male or female.

Gelliswick Church In Wales School in Milford Haven, Penrhyn Church In Wales School in Hundleton, Ysgol Bro Gwaun Comprehensive School in Fishguard, Henry Tudor School in Pembroke, and Milford Haven Comprehensive School all have unisex wash facilities on site.

The change in policy has sparked heated discussion on social media as local children go back to school, many of whom are attending new build schools which are part of the 21st Century Schools programme.

Many Pembrokeshire pupils are seeing this new kind of facility for the first time this week. It is a trend across the whole of the UK, recently hitting the national headlines.

According to a recent BBC report, there were many critics of the plan to introduce these kids of washrooms, not least the Department for Education which ruled that ‘the time is not right for the introduction of unisex toilets in our schools’, saying they were technically illegal.

Parents also expressed concerns about young people being too embarrassed to use unisex toilets – or, somewhat on the other end of scale, that the cubicles could be used for sexual liaisons between pupils.

But there is another motivation – aside from school cleaners desperately seeking the end of soggy toilet paper stuck to ceilings – and that’s cost.

Unisex toilets with this design are often cheaper to build and maintain.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council told The Herald: “We do not have ‘gender neutral’ toilets in Pembrokeshire schools.

“There are several schools in Pembrokeshire with what are termed ‘unisex wash facilities’ whereby cubicles within the toilet blocks are designated male / female and are not shared.

“The rows of cubicles, which are separated by shared wash facilities, are equipped with floor to ceiling doors for privacy.

“This toilet layout is common in most new build schools and is also believed to be an effective tool in preventing bullying and bad behaviour.

New idea: Unisex washroom at a school in Cardiff

VOICE OF THE PUBLIC

The Pembrokeshire Herald asked for comments online.

Sarah Jane Howlin said: “I honestly don’t see an issue with it, I’ve been and seen these facilities in Milford haven comp, there is plenty of space between the boys section of toilets and the girls, you cannot look over or under the doors, I honestly don’t know why people are kicking up a fuss again about it, they were there last year and everyone kicked up a fuss then. Nothing was done then nothing will be done now! Jesus there’s more important things going on in that school, there are also another set of toilets if people don’t feel comfortable using the unisex ones!

Tanya Rosemeyer said: “Well, it’s very PC as everyone seems very concerned about gender neutral everything just now. I wonder how the girls will feel when it’s their period though as when you’re a teenager that is like the most embarrassing time EVER and it’s bad enough without sharing facilities. It’s probably an invitation to “school time shenanigans” in the high school if the cubical are ultra private and no one would blink at both sexes coming out of the loos at the same time. As a parent if the kids think it’s fine and are comfortable with it I wouldn’t shout about it.”
Jessica Fox said: “Communication is free, why didn’t the school think to inform the parents, mentally prepare our 11yr old daughters for sharing toilets with 16-year-old boys.”

Tamsin Mathias added: “The only thing that I could see potentially being an issue in comprehensive schools in when girls need to use to bathroom to change a sanitary towel for instance. I remember in my teens it was a very private thing for us, and wasn’t talked about very much in front of boys for fear of being shamed.

“Now, maybe the problem should be solved by being more open in classes about women’s bodies (even some male teachers would shudder when you told them you HAD to go the toilet for “lady reasons”), and then there wouldn’t be so much of a stigma.

“But I remember wanting the toilets to be empty before I got out a fresh sanitary towel because they’re not packed in quiet packaging, and it can sometimes take a while.

“I think you have to judge it on how the students feel, I suppose.

“Preventing bullying can only work by speaking to the children and helping them understand the impact it can have, in my opinion. Shared toilets won’t prevent bullying, but speaking about bullying in classrooms and making students aware of the consequences might.”