Call for special toilets for transgender pupils

A plan is being hatched to introduce gender-neutral toilets in schools.

The scheme would see new loo facilities provided for pupils who believe they are transgender.

Campaigners claim the creation of the extra option will prevent bullying.

But critics believe the radical proposals being considered by North Ayrshire Council are a waste of the education budget.

The gender-neutral toilet proposal was raised at a recent cabinet meeting by a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Joshua McCormick expressed concern that allowances were not being made for transgender pupils or those who don’t identify as being male or female.

He said: “There’s currently a consultation on school toilets and they hadn’t taken transgender or non-binary into account.

“I do voluntary work on a personal basis for LGBT Youth in Scotland and I’m also involved with a local LGBT support group, and one of the issues raised was people not feeling comfortable entering their adopted sex bathroom.

“All facilities in Scotland should be inclusive and gender-neutral toilets should be introduced in every school, both primary and secondary.

“It received a very positive reaction at the meeting. They said they were not aware of the issue but now that I had brought it up, it would be part of their consultation they are taking into schools, where they will ask pupils what services should be available.

“Drafts are being drawn up and will be approved in the next month, so it shouldn’t take long to put it out to schools.”

But Robert Oxley of the Taxpayers’ Alliance hit back, claiming the council has got bigger problems to worry about than gender-neutral toilets.

He said: “There’s a danger this could lead to expensive refurbishments that would mean less money available to actually educate pupils.”

The issue of gender-free toilets has already been discussed by some UK universities, while education authorities in Australia are also considering introducing them.

North Ayrshire Council have now followed suit and have pledged to look into the additional toilet provision. However, questions have been asked about the suitability of such a scheme.

Tory spokeswoman for young people Liz Smith said: “It’s a matter for individual schools to decide their own policy. But I think it is pretty clear that existing research suggests that the vast majority of pupils prefer to have male and female toilet facilities and that this also reflects the opinion of many parent teacher councils.”

The plan comes three years after the same council considered reducing the school week to four days.

They hoped by giving pupils Mondays off as well as the weekend they would save cash.

A spokesman for North Ayrshire Council said: “We are carrying out a comprehensive review of toilet facilities in schools and updated the Cabinet and Youth Council representatives on the progress to date.”

LGBT Youth Scotland said the need for gender-neutral toilets in schools was “extremely important”.

A spokeswoman added: “Using single sex toilets is often a very difficult and scary experience where bullying can go unnoticed.”