Should Schools Have Gender-Neutral Toilets? OFSTED Chief Responds
Should Schools Have Gender-Neutral Toilets? OFSTED Chief Responds
The head of Ofsted took a string of calls from very angry teachers as well as one young woman who wanted to know whether gender-neutral toilets would be rolled out in schools.
The head of Ofsted took a string of calls from very angry teachers as well as one young woman who wanted to know whether gender-neutral toilets would be rolled out in schools.
Rebecca, caller
Should all schools have gender-neutral toilets?
Sir Michael Wilshaw, OFSTED
Do you know I haven’t given that one second of thought.
I don’t see why schools should not have that if it’s well policed and well supervised and well monitored.
But you know most schools have boys and girls’ toilets and I don’t see that changing very much.
Nick Ferrari, Presenter
Why do you ask, Rebecca?
Rebecca, caller
My sibling is gender fluid and my school has gender neutral toilets.
Nick Ferrari, Presenter
Yes, I remember.
We talked about this and it came from one of the teachers' conferences over the Easter holidays and you explained how your sister, is it your sister or what do we call.. do we say sister or brother?
I can’t remember.
Rebecca, caller
It’s sibling.
Nick Ferrari, Presenter
Right your sibling, that he, she or they, should have a gender neutral toilet.
Why would it help?
Rebecca, caller
It would make it easier for my sibling not having to explain why they’re going into the boys’ toilets or why they’re going into the girls’ toilets.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, OFSTED
I’m sure headteachers deal with this sort of thing sensitively and if there are particular cases where they need to provide toileting arrangements I’m sure they’ll handle that well.
I think headteachers want to do well by all their children.
Nick Ferrari, Presenter
Is our education set up to cope with gender fluid children?
Sir Michael Wilshaw, OFSTED
No that’s not the case though if more parents want this I’m sure headteachers will try to accommodate.