School rule, only allows pupils 2 toilet breaks a day
Police were called after up to 40 students at Bedale High School in North Yorkshire took to their playing field yesterday morning FRI in protest.
Parents and pupils say the new rules only allow youngsters to visit the loos during two daily time slots – between 11.05am and 11.25am and 12.25pm and 12.45pm.
It appears to mean the pupils are barred from using the toilets after lunch in a move which has been branded ‘humiliating and undignified’.
The school insist that students are allowed access to loos ‘at all times’ but a letter send to parents in February stated: ‘There is no access to the main building (where the toilets are located) after 12.45pm.’
One parent, who does not wish to be named as she wants to protect her child, says her daughter has been refused access to the loos and exceptions are only made for those who have ‘medical cards’.
She added: ‘I believe that this humiliating and undignified and is a breach of human rights to be denied access to toilets at any other time unless you have a medical need, and totally ridiculous to say that you cannot go to the toilet after you have had lunch.
‘I have complained to the headteacher who has sent me a letter stating that the rule will remain.
‘They can go between 12.25pm and 12.45pm but from then they can’t go to the toilet at all and lunch finishes at about 1.10pm.
‘My daughter had stayed behind in her class to do extra work and then went to the toilet at 12.45pm but staff wouldn’t let her go.
‘I wrote to the Head saying I felt this was a breach of human rights and she wrote back saying that those with medical issues would need to get a note from the doctor.
‘It’s appalling, the fact that if they have got medical issues they have got to show a pass, they are making them a target for bullies, it’s just degrading.’
Posting on Facebook another parent said: ‘I would also go as far to say that I would remove my daughter from school during her monthly cycle until the rule is quashed.
‘I’m quite sure if every girl stayed at home (with an unlocked loo) during their cycle, the schools attendance record on the ofsted report would only be fit for the bin.’
Pupil Madelaine Anderson posted: ‘I find this unfair on everyone not only girls but also boys, not everyone needs to have a ‘medical note’ to be allowed to use the toilet.’
Others defended the rules, claiming it was put in place in a bid to stop bullies from using toilets as a ‘hang out’.
Harry Tweddle said: ‘Apparently the reasoning behind this is the bullies who are hanging out in he toilets and targeting people.
‘By keeping the toilets locked they are hoping to flush the bullies out into the open so that they can be caught.
‘Let’s hope it works as bullying at Bedale High school has been gong on for years and doesn’t appear to be getting any better.
‘Come on parents, do you know what your children are doing at school. If your child is a bully it is your job to sort them out not the schools.
‘Their hands are tied and can only put things in place like this to try and sort it out. If you stopped your children bullying then everyone could use the toilets whenever they needed to.’
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: ‘North Yorkshire Police was alerted to a protest involving students at Bedale High School this morning.
‘PCSOs attended the school grounds and, after making enquiries, advised staff that this was not a police matter.’
A spokesperson for Bedale High School said: ‘Bedale High School has recently introduced a new behavioural code as part of an action plan to improve teaching and learning in the school.
‘The code… includes tighter rules on uniform and on reducing the numbers of students outside of classrooms during lesson time.
‘As part of this the school has reminded students that toilets are freely accessible during specific periods at lunchtime and break time but that students who need the toilet during lessons, or need access for medical reasons, will always be given access on request.
Writer: Nicole Morley for Metro.co.uk
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