Pupils ‘had to queue all lunch break for toilet’

SCHOOL SAYS NO bAN ON GOING DURING LESSONS AFTER bLOCK CLOSED DUE TO bAD bEHAVIOUR

PARENTS say their children had to spend lunch breaks queuing to use the toilets at a secondary school and were banned from going during lessons.

Kibworth Mead Academy closed one set of toilets before the Easter break due to problems with antisocial behaviour inside.

The school said there was no ban on going to the toilet during lessons and that the closed toilets have been reopened with staff monitoring them.

Parents have said on social media that the closure left their children queuing outside the one remaining set of toilets for all of their breaktimes – and that some missed lunch as a result.

One parent said her daughter felt she could not go to the toilet when her period started.

A parent told the Mercury: “There seemed to be vandalism in the toilets and it came to the point where they were shutting toilets, locking toilet doors, taking doors off cubicles.

“They were banning kids from going to the toilet during lesson time, claiming it was to do with disruption of lessons. People with toilet passes weren’t allowed to use them from what I can gather, even if they had medical reasons.

“I know students who were told to wet themselves in class rather than letting them go to the toilet.

“One student actually did wet themselves in lesson. You can imagine how that feels.

“Kids were having to decide whether to go to the toilet at lunchtime or have food. It was that choice, food or toilet.

“It’s just a joke really that it got that far with the school because the vast majority of students don’t vandalise toilets, they’re not disruptive.”

Head teacher Simon Renshaw, said one set of toilets had been closed in response to instances of anti-social behaviour.

He said: “Students were and always have been able to use the facilities during lessons if they had a genuine reason.

“No students were threatened with a detention for requesting the use of a toilet and there is ample time to use the toilet during the school day and purchase food or refreshment during breaks.

“We were made aware last week of some concerns expressed on social media about the toilets which were not an accurate reflection of the situation, so I wrote to parents on Friday explaining and encouraging them to speak to me directly.

“All parents have been invited to attend a parent forum next week where we will discuss any concerns they have with them.

“We value parental feedback and welcome their involvement in the school.

“We are always available to discuss any concerns that our community may have.

“We find issues can be swiftly resolved when we work together collaboratively and discuss matters openly.”