Parents’ horror over school’s ‘toilet ban’

ANGRY parents claim their children’s school has banned pupils from going to the toilet during lessons.

Pupils at St Julian’s School in Newport have been told they must go to the toilet at home or at break and lunchtime.

The 1,600-pupil secondary school sent out a message warning pupils that if they ask to go to the toilet during lessons the answer will be “no”.

The message says: “Please can I go to the toilet? If it’s period 1, 3 or 5 the answer will be no! Every time you leave lesson [sic] to go to the toilet you are missing out on learning.

“Please ensure you go to the toilet at home, and then at break or lunch once in school. Unless you have a pass your teacher will not let you out of their lessons P1, P3 or P5 as these lessons are too soon after opportunities to already go. Mrs Taylor monitors students who use the facilities during lesson time and passes on the names of frequent users to progress leaders.”

The message from the school has been posted by parent Mike Enea on his Facebook page The Pointy Finger.

The policy has been branded unreasonable and a potential health and safety issue by parents.

Mike Enea, who has a son, 15, and a daughter aged 13 at the school, said he is “horrified” by what he says is a “degrading” policy which could be a health and safety issue.

“The policy was only introduced in April this year allegedly. I disagreed with it, although I didn’t say anything because I knew the school was in special measures and was tightening up on discipline,” Mr Enea said.

“However, over the last week I’ve had feedback from other parents that some children have received threehour “reset” sessions as punishment for leaving their class without permission to go to the toilet.

“This means they have to sit in a special room for three hours and miss normal class.

“It’s truly outrageous. And what about young girls who desperately need to go to the toilet because it’s that time of the month?

“It must be extremely degrading for them, to be told, no you can’t go to the loo. I am absolutely horrified by this.

“My own daughter is 13 years old and attends the school. As a parent, I’m somewhat shocked and very concerned. It’s almost like we’ve taken a step back into the 19th century.”

St Julian’s School, which has pupils aged 11 to 18, has been in Estyn special measures since 2017.

In September, Julian Doroszczuk replaced Rhys Evans as head.

Asked about the school toilet policy and whether children had been put in isolation for asking to go to the toilet during lessons, a spokesman for Newport City Council, speaking on behalf of the school, said: “Newport City Council works with schools to ensure the wellbeing of all pupils and this would include supporting young people in relation to access to toilets.

“It is particularly involved in addressing period poverty among young women and the provision of private toilet facilities.

“The council would encourage pupils to raise any concerns directly with the school or head teacher or through youth councils, It recognises the importance of listening to the voice of young people.”