Dorset field centre plans upgrades for transgender and anxious pupils

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

Dorset Council plans upgrades to Leeson House Field Studies Centre to provide additional private showers and toilets.

Dorset Council plans to upgrade Leeson House Field Studies Centre at Langton Matravers, a Grade 2 listed building that hosts up to 80 pupils and accompanying staff at a time. The centre, set within seven acres, caters for primary school to A-level age students taking part in geography, geology and biology fieldwork.

Changes to the building, parts of which date back to the 1500s, will include an extension to provide additional showers and toilets, internal alterations to improve layout, and a small dormitory and equipment store. Architects Crickmay Stark, acting for the council, say in a planning submission that some improvements are needed to 'more suitably accommodate a growing number of children that are transitioning gender or for other reasons require more privacy when showering, changing, or using the toilet'.

During the last academic year, Leeson House received nine requests from schools for alternative or flexible accommodation due to pupils with anxiety or transitioning gender. Some schools declined visits to the centre because of the existing facilities. The architects also note that the centre has too few toilets and showers for modern needs.

How it is being reported

• Dorset field centre to add facilities for transgender pupils and othersDorset Council plans Leeson House upgrades for transgender pupils, adding showers, toilets and private facilities at the Langton Matravers field centre.Bournemouth Echo · 26 Oct, 12:31
• Dorset field centre to add facilities for transgender pupils and othersDorset Council plans Leeson House upgrades for transgender pupils, adding showers, toilets and private facilities at the Langton Matravers field centre.Dorset Echo · 26 Oct, 12:31

In this story: Dorset Council · Leeson House Field Studies Centre · Langton Matravers · Crickmay Stark · Dorchester

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