Parents angry after school locks its loos
A LIGHTCLIFFE school has caused outrage and concern by locking its toilets during lessons.
Angry parents have slammed Lightcliffe Academy for only allowing pupils access to the toilets before and after school, and at lunch and break times.
The school says, like at many other secondary schools, students are encouraged to go to the toilet outside of lesson time to avoid disruption.
But parents claim the policy means lengthy queues at break times and some children are being forced to choose between waiting to use the toilet and eating their lunch.
Nicola Hanson, who has two children at Lightcliffe Academy, has launched a petition urging the school to rethink the decision.
“I think it’s wrong on so many levels,” she said. “It’s really awful.”
She said students can be granted ‘toilet passes’ but these only allow them to use one disabled toilet in the school’s reception, which becomes very busy.
“People may say that children should learn to wait but there are so many reasons why a child may need a pass. Making them walk past locked toilets to access a disabled toilet and join a longer than necessary queue is my main point of complaint.”
Another parent said she had always thought highly of the school but had been shocked by this policy.
“My daughter ends up going to the toilet before school at 7.30am and then doesn’t go again until 3.45pm.
“At lunchtime, she has to either queue for the toilet or go to get something to eat. She can’t do both.”
Head of School Roz WoodIves said: “In common with many other secondary schools, our policy is that students are encouraged to go to the toilet outside of lesson time to avoid disruption to lessons, unless they need to for medical or health reasons, or it is an emergency.
“Students who need to use toilet facilities in an emergency have access to them in the main foyer during lesson times.
“Due to the positive relationships that exists between staff and students, staff use their discretion to ensure that those who genuinely need to access toilet facilities feel comfortable in seeking permission to do so.”
She said the school is aware that some students and parents are unhappy with the arrangements, and is actively working with its parent and student councils around how it can address their concerns.
“At lunchtime she has to either queue for the toilet or go to get something to eat.”