Parents have slammed a school's decision to remove the doors to the girls' and boys' bathroom. Pupils returned to Parrenthorn High in Prestwich, Bury, after the summer holidays to find that the doors to the two toilet areas had been taken away.
Teachers told students during an assembly on Monday morning that the doors had been dismantled to open up the space and 'to keep pupils as safe as possible and improve the school environment'. However, one parent said the move has taken away youngsters' privacy and made them feel uncomfortable going to the bathroom, Manchester Evening News reports.
She said: "I am not happy that on return to school today my child finds that the doors to the toilets have been removed - not the cubicle doors, but the doors to the toilets. The privacy has gone for both genders.
"Do you really want to adjust yourself at the mirrors in full view of anyone passing by? Especially when a teenager, I think not."
And she said that if the change has been made to prevent other problems, they will still happen regardless. "Is it to stop bullying?" said the parent.
"Bullying does not confine itself to the toilets, so address the bullying. Is it to stop kids vaping? Get a bathroom monitor and trust me those kids will find other places.
"Privacy is a human right and it’s being eroded one step at a time." Another parent told us she too was concerned about the change, adding: "I don't agree with this at all. And we were not told this was going to happen either.
"Why should the children be made to feel uncomfortable going to the toilet?"
Headteacher Chris Bell told the Manchester Evening News that two sets of toilets have been opened up in this way - the ones that are open for pupils to use during lesson time - and it has been done in line with guidance for schools and other public buildings.
He said it was discussed at a meeting before the holidays, but it was during the heatwave and 'not a huge amount of parents' were present. "It was mentioned to children this morning in assemblies," he said.
He said the school is inclusive to all and has gender neutral toilets, other accessible toilets and has been awarded a Rainbow Flag Award, which shows it is committed to supporting inclusion and tackling LGBTphobic bullying.
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