Published • loading... • Updated
Council Acted Unlawfully in School Toilet Provision, Judge Rules
Lady Poole found the school’s all-unisex toilet setup unlawfully discriminated against girls and failed Scotland’s school premises rules.
- On Thursday, Judge Lady Poole ruled that West Lothian Council acted unlawfully by failing to provide single-sex toilet facilities, finding the provision indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010.
- Parents brought a judicial review last year after their child found the situation "distressing," reduced fluid intake "considerably," and regularly came home "in pain" from avoiding the mixed-sex facilities.
- Lady Poole rejected the council's defense based on Scottish Government guidance, writing "the council is obliged to obey the law, not guidance." The arrangement also breached 1967 Regulations on separate wash basins and urinal requirements.
- The court ordered West Lothian Council to pay the parents' legal expenses, mirroring a precedent set by Scottish Borders Council in a similar case, while the council stated it is considering its options.
- Responding on Twitter, author JK Rowling warned other councils: "Polite notice to schools still breaking the law by failing to provide single sex bathrooms: you will be sued and you will lose.
Insights by Ground AI
29 Articles
29 Articles
Girl, 5, left 'distressed' after being forced to share unisex school toilets with boys
A five-year-old girl was left "distressed" after being forced to share unisex school toilets with boys.The youngster, called 'C', would often go home in pain after refusing to use the toilets at her primary school in Scotland - and even reduced her liquid intake to limit the need to do so.Deeming the boys "too noisy", Child C would wait until she got home. The judge later ruled she was a victim of "indirect discrimination".While both sexes can a…
·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Evening Standard+19 Reposted by 19 other sources
Council acted unlawfully in school toilet provision, judge rules
The case was brought against West Lothian Council.
·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources29
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
L 17%
C 75%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
