Unisex toilet plan ditched at London school because of gap at bottom of doors

A school has dropped plans for unisex toilets over a privacy issue.

Little Ilford secondary's proposal was based on the cubicles being "floor to ceiling" and entirely secure.

But they say they've now been told there's a gap of at least 10cm at the bottom of the doors.

More than 50 parents and students revealed concerns over unisex toilets at a recent meeting with staff but the school says the plans have been scrapped because of the doors.

LGBT campaigners say unisex toilets give equal rights to transgender people who may have been born one sex but identify with the other gender.

Fourteen-year-old Nazeem Islam, who's in Year 9, went to the meeting about mixed gender loos.

Nazeem Islam and his mum

He said: "Personally I don't really mix with the opposite sex, especially in such a vulnerable area like the toilets. So I'm really glad the unisex toilets plan has been dropped.

"Also [as a Muslim] I pray during school time. Before praying you have to wash and that could create problems in mixed toilets. I know the school wanted to provide facilities for us but it would be more complicated."

His mum Firuja Begum said: "As a parent, we have to think about our children's convenience and I'm really glad they've dropped the plans."

The school didn't want to be interviewed, but said governors would discuss what was next for toilets in the school's new building at the end of June.

The bus stop outside Little Ilford School

Unisex loos have made headlines recently with some people saying they feel unsafe.

Gay rights charity Stonewall says schools always ask them how to improve facilities for LGBT people and mixed toilets is one of the ways they recommend.

Hannah Kibruggy from the organisation said: "Some people are trans and don't feel comfortable using single sex toilets, so it's about creating a safe space for everyone.

"Schools that are doing this are finding that they aren't having any problems and it shows a really strong message that they just support people being themselves at school."

The "access friendly" toilet at a school near Leicester

Sixteen-year-old Lucas describes himself as a transgender male.

He asked for mixed toilets to be put in place in Groby Community College near Leicester.

"The students at my last school got quite aggressive about me using the boys' toilets so I'm pleased we've got unisex toilets.

"It gives us a place to feel included... myself and another student asked for unisex toilets so we now have what we call Access Friendly Toilets."

"There are also toilets for single sex students here, so everyone can feel included."

His friend Emily added: "It's important trans people can go to the toilet without the fear of being bullied."

The school's anti-bullying coordinator Zoe Meadowcroft said: "We haven't really had any problems because it's about celebrating diversity.

"We hope to introduce gender neutral changing rooms in the future."

Lucas with his friend Emily

Nazeem says transgender students' views should be considered and there should be some provision of unisex toilets for them.

Some of the parents at Little Ilford School told the Asian Network that unisex toilets are inappropriate in an Asian area.

Maheen, who is in Year 11, said: "I think Asian parents are a bit over-protective and they want their kids to be safe at school."

Her friend Rozalind added: "The problem is that as children get older things start happening and unisex toilets could encourage that sort of behaviour."

Maheen is a student at the school

Before scrapping the proposals the school planned to put any concerns to governors who were yet to make a final decision.

One parent who attended the meeting, but didn't want to be named, said she thought they were a good idea.

"Most of what the head teacher talked about in the meeting was about anti-bullying and he also spoke about cleanliness.

"Also he spoke about how long it takes for the girls to find the girls' toilets and the boys to find the boys. If they were mixed, there would be a lot more toilets to be used by everyone and students would get to lessons quicker.

"If the cubicles are enclosed floor to ceiling, even if there was a communal washing area, I wouldn't mind."

The Department for Education doesn't have figures on how many schools have unisex toilets as it says individual schools decide on that.

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