As a student of Wyedean School, I've been facing significant difficulties due to the new bathroom policy. Until recently, I refrained from using the school bathrooms entirely due to a lack of comfort and privacy. Now, with the school's decision to close off most toilets during lesson, when I feel most comfortable to use them, and remove the exterior doors from the gender-neutral bathrooms, leaving only the stall doors which means anyone can hear what happens in the bathroom, my anxiety has only increased. With only two toilets available (the gender neutral and one’s by our student support which are usually busy now that the gender neutral bathrooms are the only other ones available) with approximately six stalls per bathroom at any given time, I'm left with no feasible options when I need them the most.

This predicament doesn't just affect me; it's a daily struggle for many students who require access to clean and private bathroom facilities across the school many students are uncomfortable due to the mess and smell in the gender neutral bathrooms. Everyone deserves the right to use bathrooms conveniently and without distress. Our current bathroom policy is limiting accessibility and compromising the privacy of students. Although there are floor to ceiling stalls whatever we do in there can be heard and smelled without the exterior doors.

Statistics highlight the importance of privacy and accessibility in school facilities; for instance, research shows that students who are uncomfortable using bathroom facilities are more likely to face mental health challenges and miss school. Furthermore, maintaining hygiene is critical, and limited access to toilets can lead to numerous issues, including decreased academic performance due to distraction from urgent needs. By avoiding bathrooms students can put themselves at risk of balder issues or dehydration if they drink less.

I'm advocating for immediate changes to our bathroom policy to restore full access to all toilets at all times and to reinstall the exterior doors on the gender-neutral bathrooms. This simple change can vastly improve the school environment, making it more inclusive and accommodating for everyone.

Wyedean School can lead by example and show that it values the well-being and comfort of its student body. By making these necessary adjustments, the administration will demonstrate its commitment to fostering an environment that respects and understands the needs of all its students.

Please join me in urging the administration to amend the current bathroom policy. Sign this petition to create a more respectful and inclusive school experience for all students!

Also, the gender neutral toilets are wonderful for students who do not fit into gender norms but by making everyone use the gender neutral bathrooms it may be uncomfortable to the students the bathroom is intended for to use it.

On the second day of the new bathroom rules people were caught making out in there, imagine what else students may do now that they can share with their partners.

Similarly, many students I have spoken to are worried about sexual assault which is a justified concern as in a 2018 report 90% of sexual assault reports in schools and leisure centres occur in gender neutral facilities. 

In wyedean we are told that the school rules are there to prepare us for a work environment but but in work places if a bathroom is locked all staff must have keys or a way to access it but in schools, the place made to prepare us for our future careers, the bathrooms get locked because teenager’s apparently can’t be treated like the adults we are expected to be, as a minority of students think vandalism and vaping is funny in the bathrooms.

I have now been spoken to by a member of staff who has knowledge of my petition and she has said that although the petition is nice and well written no change will be made to the policy please help me reach a high enough number that the school will have to change the policy and unlock all bathrooms to allow students like myself to feel comfortable in the bathrooms again!