School that installed 'unisex' toilets is compared to 'prison camp' by furious parents

A secondary school has been compared to a "prison camp" by angry parents after installing 'unisex' toilets for students.

One raging mum said the new move was "disgusting" and that she would be moving her daughter to a different school.

While a local councillor even waded into the row and said the decision "needs reversing and reversing now."

Headmaster Dominic McKeon had the row of standalone toilets built in the run up to the new school year so male and female could use them together during their lunch break.

But parents at the 1,050 pupil Little Lever School in Bolton, Greater Manchester were furious after only learning of the move when their children returned to classes following the summer holidays.

Several vowed to keep the youngsters off lessons in protest whilst a campaign against the toilets went viral on Facebook .

Today Mr McKeon, who was appointed to the school in 2016 a year after it converted to Academy status, posted pictures of the new toilets on the social media network insisting each cubicle has 'male' and 'female' signs in a bid to appease parents.

He said the block near the school canteen was only introduced to help pupils get food and take a comfort break within a new 30 minute time frame for lunchtime sittings.

But local UKIP councillor Sean Hornby said: "Many parents and children are not happy with this situation and has been a very poor PR exercise by the school and on this occasion I believe the school need to learn lessons not the pupils. This needs reversing and reversing now.

"Of the all issues that I have dealt with as an elected member and I have never had so many messages about an issue. I think the school should have told parents about this, parents are not happy.

"I think that the school has badly got this wrong and I think they should reverse this decision. Using the same toilets could make girls feel uncomfortable especially as they enter puberty and think there is a boy in the next cubicle and also the lack of toilets is leading to large queues."

Parent Kirsty Brown said: "It doesn't make any difference having a sign on the doors - the fact is they are in the same room and my daughter felt uncomfortable using them.

"She will not be returning as she does not feel comfortable with the changes. It's supposed to be school yet it's more like a prison camp. It's ridiculous."

Jennifer Jones said: "They do not have unisex toilets in the workplace or hospital and I wouldn't expect them to be at a secondary school. This should have been discussed with parents first where we could voice our opinions and concerns."

Another mother said: "So many parents are not happy about this, I think it is disgusting. Girls don't want to use a toilet which a boy has been in, it's different at home because it's your family.

"I'm also worried about girls and boys using the same toilets. I am going to put my daughter into another school."

Her daughter, 14, added: "I feel uncomfortable using the toilets and I helped a young girl to find the toilets and she saw a young boy go in and didn't want to use them."

Mr McKeon said the toilets were built nearer the canteen after the school decided to split lunchtimes into 30 minute sittings.

He said the cubicles were fully enclosed with communal sinks outside and in a statement added: "We decided to have toilets closer to the canteen over lunchtime time so children were not having to walk to the other toilets which were on the other side of the school and to stop others who are having their lessons from being disturbed."

In a post on the school's Facebook page Mr McKeon wrote: "I have read many of the comments on our Facebook page and I want to reassure parents and carers that we will do all we can to ensure your children feel comfortable during their lunch break.

"We will listen to the views of parents and carers and work with you to ensure we get things right for your children. We have segregated the toilet area into boys and girls as you can see on the pictures.

"The toilets have one entrance with communal sinks and hand dryers with boys toilets on one side and girls toilets on the other. The toilets go from the floor to the ceiling to create a private cubicle.

"We are always happy to listen to our parents and carers as your views and opinions are extremely valuable in helping us shape the direction of the school and ultimately your child's future."