New WRDA Research Launched: Bathroom Access in Schools
On Wednesday 25th March, WRDA and Menstruation Matters joined a panel of young women to discuss the key findings and recommendations of a report on bathroom access in schools in Northern Ireland.
The findings, based on 221 responses from young people, their parents and some medical practitioners, show some concerning trends. These include:
Only 9% of respondents said that their school does not restrict bathroom access in some way
63.8% said that access was limited to break or lunch times, with some operating medical passes
Of those schools where bathroom access is at the discretion of a teacher, inconsistencies are reported
46.1% of respondents have reported period leaks or accidents as a result of this policy
Students report avoiding school when they have their periods, or experiencing anxiety as a result of the policy
Some students report missing breaks because they have to queue for the bathroom
Students and their families are rarely consulted when bathroom access is restricted
We have worked from these findings to try to find a series of recommendations that respect the rights of children to bathroom facilities, while at the same time appreciating schools’ concerns, and we believe that the recommendations are practical and sensible, including a survey of all schools by the Education Authority to ensure we have accurate data on how widespread the issue is.
You can read the full report here.