Keep school toilets single sex

In Scotland and indeed in other places across the UK we are hearing of more local authorities and schools making decisions to change facilities from single sex to mixed sex. 

This includes school toilets and this is being done without consultation with parents or pupils. Often when parents do find out and raise concern, the school/LA have to revert back to single sex at tax payers expense.

Mixed sex toilets are also not legal in Scottish Schools. The law that applies is: 

School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967,  

There is no provision for mixed sex, unisex or gender neutral. It is ok to have a ‘gender neutral’ option for those pupils who would feel more comfortable, however this cannot be at the expense of access to single sex facilities. 

This is having a detrimental impact on young girls in school. They are reporting being shamed for having a period, to being sexually assaulted and intimidated. Mixed sex toilets are not appropriate. Girls deserve safety, privacy and dignity and have a right to this within the Equality Act 2010. Organisations have become worried about implementing the exemptions within the EqA due to misinformation about what the law actually is. Safety, privacy and dignity of young girls are a legitimate aim to maintain these single sex facilities.

I am raising an awareness campaign and plan to present this petition to local authorities in Scotland to pre-empt any decisions being made in the area and to let them know that they must consider the views of parents and pupils and not be swayed by public opinion to take away young girls rights.

Examples:

https://www.wionews.com/world/scottish-schoolgirls-boycott-gender-neutral-toilets-due-to-misbehaviour-by-boys-432493/amp

https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2021/08/24/1170765-scots-school-forced-to-make-u-turn-on-unisex-toilets-after-backlash-scottish-news/

https://forwomen.scot/06/08/2020/school-toilets/

https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/19188473.unisex-toilets-musselburgh-grammar-school-will-reduce-bullying-fear-mental-anguish/

https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/pupils-force-council-to-reconsider-unisex-only-toilets-at-school?amp