I AM prepared to accept that some of my opinions could be considered a little old-fashioned.

Sometimes I struggle to come to terms with the pace of change in the modern world but I have to confess I was genuinely shocked (and believe me when I say it takes a lot to shock me) when I read that a primary school in a town not too far away from here had made its toilet facilities ‘gender neutral’.

Yep, that’s right. No more boys’ toilets, no more girls’ toilets – just gender neutral toilets.

Now it may be that the management and governors at this particular school are on-trend, forward thinking and right to embrace gender neutrality – after all they are the experts when it comes to children.

A spokesman said: “The school believes passionately in equality of opportunity and ‘embracing difference’ in all individuals.

“We therefore believe children should be able to access all facilities equally and we should not segregate pupils unnecessarily.

“The school is a Stonewall Champion school and, in line with training and advice based on research, the vast majority of children who are experiencing gender identity issues feel much safer using gender neutral facilities rather than having to discuss their anxieties openly at a young age.”

The statement from the school went on to say: “The school has a statutory duty to follow the Equality Act 2010...this means taking proactive steps to support LGBT pupils as well as pupils who do not conform to gender norms by promoting respect and understanding of LGBT people and issues across the whole school community.”

OK, I get that. The school has a responsibility to take into account the feelings of all its pupils, whatever their gender identity.

But what about the children who feel uncomfortable – for whatever reason – in using gender neutral toilets?

Perhaps there are one or two 11-year-old girls at the school who are secure in their gender identity and don’t want to share their toilet space with 11-year-old boys and vice-versa.

What provision, I wonder, will the school be making for them. Will the school be taking their feelings into account?

But this isn’t the first school in the north west to find itself with toilet issues after making changes.

A woman in Wirral stopped her daughter going to school in protest after a wall to a girls’ toilet block was removed.

Changes to the girls’ toilets at a college in Wallasey caused uproar among parents because toilet cubicles were exposed to an open corridor and overlooked by a classroom.

The head teacher told concerned parents: “As with everything we change in our college, it is with the intention of improving the learning environment for our students.

“In doing this we looked at the approaches taken to this in more recently built schools.

“In these schools, toilets are often accessed immediately off a corridor rather than through a series of doors and it is reported that students in these schools have commented very positively.”

I have a couple of thoughts about these two stories. In the first instance, it seems like these schools are seeking to solve problems that I’m not sure actually exist, although I am happy to hear from teachers who can tell me otherwise.

It does smack of political correctness gone mad.

And I understood schools are strapped for cash. Where have they got the money from for this building work?

  • I went to a Remembrance Day parade and service on Sunday.

What a moving and inspirational day it was.

It was heartwarming to see people from all generations and walks of life come together to mark the heroics of those who fought and died in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

Let’s just hope we continue to remember the fallen.