CRITICISM over planned changes to toilet facilities in a Thornbury primary school that developed into an online debate has been branded “inaccurate” and “disappointing”.

Plans for the £60,000 redevelopment to the Key Stage 2 toilet block at Christ the King School came under fire from the community earlier this week after posts on social media suggested the “unisex” toilets were not appropriate.

Others also criticised the school for allowing the news to come through their children or the social media debate.

Responding to the concerns, the school’s head teacher Mary Mainwaring and chairman of governors Mary Baskerville said that the criticism is unfounded and that the toilets are not unisex.

While the pupils would share an entrance to the facilities and an open-plan wash area, the toilets themselves would be full height, ceiling-to-floor cubicles, clearly marked for the use of boys and girls.

An application for £60,000 of funds was put to the Clifton Diocese by the school a year ago, with the intention of redeveloping the toilet facilities, built with the school almost 50 years ago.

Mrs Mainwaring said that the announcement that the toilets would be refurbished was made in the school newsletter last month, and added that there is plenty of opportunity for families to have their say at the parent forum, which happens once a term.

“Our toilets are in a terrible state and are in need of an update,” said Mrs Mainwaring.

“We took some advice from the architects for the Clifton Diocese who came in and did some drawings for us as a school. These were then approved by the governing body – of which around half consists of parents.”

The announcement about the more specific plans for the toilets were set to be made in a newsletter this week, but this was moved forward following the comments online.

“I think it is a shame that it has been taken to social media with such inaccuracy, because the school is so open to parents coming in,” said Mrs Baskerville.

“There is an open door policy and parents are always welcome to come in and talk to Mary about anything.”

“One of the disappointing things from the school’s point of view is that it is not really parents of pupils at the school who have spoken out against it. The parents of pupils at the school who have commented on the plans have been very positive.

“We included the children early on, asking them what colours they would like to see the doors painted, and it could be that one has gone home, told their parents and the news was simply misconstrued.”

The plans will be available to parents at their next parent forum on Wednesday, November 29.