Student excluded after stand over locked toilets
Poppy’s protest at school decision sparks social media storm
A young GCSE student who protested about the toilets being locked at her school found herself excluded from classes.
Poppy Mayne, who is finishing tuition before her exams, showed defiance when she called into question why pupils were not allowed to go during class at Aylesford School Sports College and produced posters on the situation.
Poppy’s mother, Kelly MayneStronge, said: “I took her to school and spoke to staff, who thought it appropriate that she is excluded, missing a vital GCSE grading lesson. I refused to leave until they overturned this.
“I was informed the reason is due to children feeling ‘unsafe’ in the toilets. Perhaps they should deal with the bullies, and not with the children who want a clean, safe environment, who express their right to campaign.”
Poppy was allowed back to school on Thursday but the situation sparked a social media storm, with parents complain- ing their children’s rights were being taken away.
In a subsequent letter to parents, the school, in Teapot Lane, said its aim was to ensure learning was the focus of lesson time, and to crack down on students coming out of classes and using the loos inappropriately.
A statement released on its Facebook page read: “Toilets are always available for all students, however due to inappropriate use by a small number it has become necessary to restrict access during lesson times.
“During break and lunch times all toilets are available. Please be assured at no time will a student be denied necessary access to facilities.”
But some queried this. Ronnie Warwick, who is in Year 9, said: “Teachers tell us we can’t go at all during lessons, they say we should have gone at break or lunch.
“But toilets often remain locked during break, and at the start and end of the day, so people don’t have the chance to go before class.”
Melanie Noble, whose 12-yearold daughter is in Year 7 at the school, said: “This is breaching our children’s human rights. They are not programmed to go to the toilet at the school’s request. I can only imagine staff have free access to their own facilities, thus not actually making it a big deal to them.”