A DECISION to make new toilets at a high school primarily male and female zones is said to have been met with disappointment by pupils, following the school's decision to only include a smaller number of gender-neutral facilities.

Following a lengthy discussion and debate surrounding the new facilities, Musselburgh Grammar School has made the decision to make their new toilets primarily male and female specific.

However, a pupil at the school has told the Courier that the decision has resulted in backlash from students, who advocated for gender-neutral bathrooms.

It was claimed that one pupil had even written to the town's MSP Colin Beattie in a bid to reverse the school's decision.

A spokesperson for the school's student council has since condemned the decision and said it ignored pupils' views.

READ MORE: Musselburgh Grammar School students 'ignored' over male and female toilets decision and plan to 'fight' it

An East Lothian Council spokesperson has confirmed that the final design of the facilities does include some non-designated toilets, which are in addition to the existing non-designated toilets in the rest of the school – the completion of the facilities is expected in the coming weeks.

The spokesperson added: “Non-designated toilets are included within the design of the new facilities, as well as elsewhere in the school.

“Throughout this process, we have committed to engaging with the school community and to balancing the needs and views of all the young people who use the school’s facilities alongside our legal responsibilities."

A school consultation, at the request of the parent council, was conducted in March 2021 involving all stakeholders.

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The spokesperson continued: "Following the results of this consultations, we sought independent legal advice to ensure that the final option would meet our responsibilities within current guidelines and all applicable legislation.

"This has been confirmed, allowing us to confirm the arrangements with the Musselburgh Grammar School community.

“This project was developed to provide better social spaces within the school and much-needed modernisation of the toilets, and we are pleased to see it progress.”

A spokesperson from Musselburgh Grammar said that the main priority was to provide the school with new, modern and high-quality spaces.

They added: "We have been working to ensure that our final decision on the designation of the new toilet facilities at Musselburgh Grammar School meets our responsibilities within current guidelines and all applicable legislation.

"We have been committed to listening to and giving full consideration to all feedback from the Musselburgh Grammar community throughout this process.

"Having completed this work, and having sought independent legal advice to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and statutory requirements, we are able to confirm that the facilities will be provided as two separate, designated toilet blocks (one male, one female), with an additional four non-designated and fully enclosed toilets located in the same area.

"This is in addition to the existing non-designated toilets already within the school."