Bullying 'cut with unisex toilet'

Bullying incidents have dropped, the school's headteacher said

The introduction of unisex toilets at a school has proved successful in tackling bullying and other anti-social behaviour, teachers have said.

Martin Burgess, head of Shuttleworth College in Padiham, said there had been no bullying incidents in the school's new toilets despite initial criticism.

In many schools toilet areas are the biggest source of bullying, smoking and general disorder, he said.

He said his pupils had a greater sense of pride in the new facilities.

Complete privacy

The facilities are located on two floors of the school, however there is a single block of traditional toilets as the school is also used by the community, where bullying incidents have been reported.

The toilets are sealed units, providing complete privacy, with a CCTV camera sited outside the area.

"There have been no complaints from the pupils, although some parents were initially concerned about the open plan facilities," the headteacher added.

"This was a school in special measures, with serious behaviour problems, now the children are proud of what they have. There are few problems, no vandalism."

Plans for unisex toilets were introduced in East Lancashire in a bid to tackle bullying under guidelines for the Government's nationwide Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.