A Co Antrim secondary school has defended adopting a strict toilet policy for Year 11 pupils.
Parents of pupils attending Ulidia Integrated College in Carrickfergus were informed by email that toilets will operate on a one-in one-out policy at break and lunch times.
Meanwhile, requests to use the toilets during class time will be refused unless the pupil shows a medical card or exemption to the teacher.
In addition, pupils who need to use the toilet outside the specified times during their period will need a note from their parents, which will then be dated and counter-signed by their form teacher.
The school said it has been dealing with various issues amongst an "increasing number of Year 11 pupils" including disrespecting staff, misuse of toilets, uniform breaches and vandalism.
As a result, Ulidia said it was implementing a "zero tolerance approach" from Friday, January 21st.
One parent Ciaran McCauley told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra on Thursday: "My son is in Year 12 at the school and he came home on Friday last and was quite concerned because he had become aware of the email that had gone out to the parents of Year 11 students.
"It doesn't affect my son directly but he was able to empathise with the issues that might be impacting the other students.
"He complained that the toilets were being locked and students and parents had been asked to supply notes. If the children needed to access toilets if they were on their period, they had to bring a note in, have it counter-signed by a teacher and dated."
Mr McCauley believes it's an "unfair policy" and "wrong".
"I thought it was regressive and led to embarrassing situations for kids. Unfortunately we live in a society where periods still have a stigma attached to them and they're still an embarrassment for many," he added.
After initially thinking the email was a rumour, Mr McCauley said he then contacted the school who confirmed it.
In a statement, principal Michael Houston said: "As a rights respecting school, Ulidia Integrated College is in full support of the Period Dignity Project, which refers to the accessibility and availability of essential care needed to support a period in conjunction with the removal and breaking of stigma and taboo around periods.
"Education is a key factor in breaking the stigma surrounding periods and promoting respect, understanding and open discussions about what people may experience.
"Following repeated incidents of vandalism and breaches of Covid-19 safeguards in the toilets, many of which occurred during lesson times, some facilities had to be closed, replaced or repaired.
"We want to ensure that all pupils in the particular year group affected are always given access to clean and sanitary facilities during their period."
Mr Houston added that the measures are temporary and protective, only relevant for the pupils in a single year group who have to leave during lessons as facilities are freely available before school, at break and lunch time, end of day and between lessons as required.
"In addition all single person all access toilets are open too all pupils all day every day without exception."
It comes two months after a Co Down grammar school was criticised for its toilet policy after it emerged there were just three toilets for 1,100 pupils.
The rules about going to the toilet imposed at Glenlola Collegiate School in Bangor were labelled “draconian”.
It's understood there was originally only one toilet in use for the all-girl's school's population of roughly 1,100 pupils from the second week of November.
Glenlola Principal Eric Thompson later said it was put in place as a "pupil welfare issue was arising".
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