A primary school has introduced gender-neutral toilets in Glasgow

The same-sex toilets are being installed in Gowanbank Primary School, in a bid to cut bullying and help LGBT pupils who are confused about their gender.

Both genders will share the toilets at the Glasgow school, which is currently around 50% completed, while planning applications have been submitted for Blairdardie and Carntyne primaries.

Construction on these is expected to begin in the summer.

The same-sex toilets are being installed in Gowanbank Primary School, in a bit to cut bullying and help LGBT pupils who are confused about their gender. (Picture: Google maps)

All three schools are being constructed under the council’s 4Rs programme, a five-year project to rebuild or refurbish every C or D grade primary and nursery school in Glasgow.

But the move has prompted an angry reaction from some parents with several writing letters of complaint to the local authority.

Malcolm Balfour, SNP councillor for Drumchapel and Anniesland, said parents had approached him about their concerns regarding the toilets at the new Blairdardie school.

He said: ‘Parents have raised serious concerns over the introduction of unisex toilets in the school. In Scandinavian countries they do this quite successfully but this is the first primary school in Glasgow.

‘I can see that it teaches kids it doesn’t matter what their gender is. A girl who feels trapped in a boy’s body and a boy who feels trapped in a girl’s body might feel embarrassed to be going into the wrong toilets.

Planning applications have been submitted for Carntyne Primary School (pictured) and Blairdardie Primary School (Picture: Google maps)

‘But girls mature more quickly than boys and they start to develop towards the end of primary school and they need their privacy.

‘Parents feel they should have been consulted first.’

In a letter to the council, Joyce McCann raised concerns about the pupils sharing toilets if their religion doesn’t allow it.

Another objector, Allan Walker, called on Glasgow City Council to produce evidence that same sex toilets reduce bullying before the plans are approved.

But council bosses insist that unisex toilets cut bullying and anti-social behaviour, boost cleanliness and are more cost-effective.

Blairdardie Primary school (Picture: Google maps)

David McEwan, Estate Programme Manager for Education Services at Glasgow City Council, said: ‘Bullying is reduced, behaviour is improved, no graffiti, no soggy bombs on the ceilings.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/06/primary-school-introduces-gender-neutral-toilets-6491211/