Parents have slammed a Leeds school for 'taking away their children's dignity' as pupils protest over its toilet policy.
A number of pupils protested outside The Farnley Academy on Friday (February 24), refusing to go to lessons over a rule that allegedly sees toilets locked during lesson times. Headteacher Chris Stokes said in a letter to parents that the decision was made after "two very serious safeguarding events" and that at least one block of girls' and boys' toilets always remain open.
But pupils told LeedsLive that they feel like they aren't able to go to the toilet when they need it for reasons like being on their period. They also added that they feel like they spend all of their break times queuing up to use the toilets if they need to go.
Read more: Hundreds of pupils protest outside Leeds school over 'disgusting' toilet rule change
Videos have surfaced of pupils chanting as they headed into school on Friday morning. Mr Stokes said they were told to disperse and give their feedback through other measures, adding that a "very small minority" did not go off to form when told to.
Parent Emma Bedford, whose 16-year-old son Theo opposes the toilet policy, said: "I understand they have to take action to protect safeguarding but this is about the children's dignity. You need to get a toilet pass to go, and the kids say the teachers won't give them permission.
"There's a member of staff sat outside the toilets when they go monitoring. My other son said the queues to use the toilets at break times are so long you sometimes can't get in and I feel like not being able to use the toilet when you need it compromises the children's dignity.
"You feel really rushed when you do go and like there's no privacy," Theo added. "And the toilets are really gross."
Several parents claimed their children had been put in isolation for taking part in the protest or for violating the toilet policy. Pupils said the toilet policy came in after Christmas.
Parent John Birkby said "you get more rights to use the toilet when you need it in a prison".
His son Zach, 13, said: "The protest today was massive. There was hundreds of people and some people have been put in isolation because of it."
In his letter, Mr Stokes said: "Being aware of the planned protest, I asked members of staff to be on hand in the canteen with pens and paper so that students could write down their views, which I would then personally respond to. When the first bell went at 8.28 am, around 1300 students who were already on the school site went to form time without issue."
Several teenage female pupils who spoke to LeedsLive, but did not want to be named, said they worry about being on their periods at school in case they can't get to a toilet when they need it. A number of pupils also claimed if you use the toilet during lesson time you have to get loo roll from outside the cubicles rather than inside.
Kelly Miller, whose 14-year-old daughter Ciel is in year 10, said the policy was "disgusting". "They end up spending their breaks queuing up for the toilets," she added.
"My child is upset about it. Her friends are all feeling the same way."
"I feel uncomfortable asking to go," said Ciel. "When you're a girl and you've got girl problems sometimes you have to explain that to your teacher, and sometimes they won't let you go."
Emma added: "I really just think it's important that the kids get a voice that isn't taken away. This is about their basic human rights and dignity." A spokesperson for the GORSE Academies Trust previously said: "We are aware that some comments are being made in respect of toilets and their availability during the school day.
"To keep all students safe during times when members of staff are not on duty, we have asked students to only use the centrally located toilets during lesson time. These toilets are open during all lesson times, are accessible from all parts of the school, and a member of staff is present to ensure all students are safe.
"During break and lunch, students are then able to use all of the toilets in school. We actively encourage all students to ensure that they go to the toilet before school, at break and at lunch, to avoid needing to go during lesson time. However, the option to use the toilets during lesson time remains available to students where it is needed.
"Additionally, through feedback from our wonderful Student Leadership Team, we are investing a further £100,000 to fully refurbish some of the toilets within the school in the coming months."
In his letter, Mr Stokes added: "As a school, we listen to student feedback, and make positive changes as a result. I would politely ask that all parents/carers remember that what is presented to you by your child, may not always represent the full story, partly because they may not be aware of all the information surrounding a particular decision. It is clearly not the case that we lock all toilets. This would be completely unreasonable.
“Over the coming days, we will seek to explore with our young people the action that was taken today.
“Our responsive PSHE curriculum will now be adapted to ensure that all students are able to further understand how they can make their voice heard in a constructive way. I would like to thank you for your ongoing support, and I hope that the information above has helped to provide some additional context. As always, please do get in touch with our Community Engagement Officer team if you would like to discuss any aspect in more detail.”
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