A Birstall school has caused a stir online for introducing gender neutral toilets at their facility.
The Cedars Academy, which sits on Wanlip Lane, Birstall, has introduced the facilities at the request of the student’s LGBTQ+ group. Although some of its toilets will remain the same (male/female), some parents have complained online, about the move to adding gender neutral toilets.
“My child now refuses to go toilet at break times as doesn’t want to be in mixed toilets, thus will be asking to go during class time”, said one parent online.
“This is generally frowned upon and often not allowed! What is my child supposed to do?”
Other parents weighed in on the discussion, adding: “Don’t think my son could handle going in with girls, they are all just starting out puberty, it won’t be nice for girls either!”
Another pointed out that she thought parents should have been consulted in the decision.
“Not right not consulting with us parents”, they said.
“However I have been assured that there is a set of male only and female only toilets onsite.”
A spokesman for the Lionheart Educational Trust, which runs the school, told the Leicester Times that although comments have been made online, no parents have made contact with the school to express their concern.
“The Cedars Academy prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive school for all students”, said James Rolfe, Associate Principal at The Cedars Academy.
“We work hard to educate on, and discuss, a broad spectrum of subjects so that our young people are understanding and respectful of each other and the world around them.
“The gender neutral facilities have floor to ceiling cubicles, are in an open plan area that is covered by CCTV and therefore, are easily supervised”, he said addressing concerns over privacy.
“We are keeping other toilet facilities as male only and female only, ensuring all our students have a choice.”
