A Nottinghamshire school has decided to have CCTV cameras installed in pupils' toilets to reduce 'damage and vandalism'. Carlton le Willows Academy has written to parents to explain why they have taken the decision after "inappropriate use" by some of the students.
CCTV cameras will be installed as a result in each of the single sex toilet spaces, the school said. These cameras will look along the line of cubicles, along the top of the cubicles and along the line of sinks.
The school however ensured parents that the cameras will be strategically located, so they do not focus inside toilet cubicles when doors are shut or into the urinal areas in the boys' toilets. The cameras will be installed during January as a temporary measure - with the school looking to turn the existing single sex spaces into self-contained unisex toilets.
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In a letter to parents, acting headteacher Rod Bond-Taylor said pupils deserve to have toilets free from damage and disruption. He said: “Having completed a number of student voice tasks, both prior to and as part of our most recent Ofsted inspection, and also through day-to-day learning walks and running of the Academy, it is clear that the single sex toilet spaces are not being used appropriately by some of our students.
“The inappropriate use of these spaces and significant damage caused has led to a significant minority of students unwilling to use the toilets during the school day. This cannot continue."
He added: “These cameras, to be installed in January, will improve how we safeguard our students, reduce damage and vandalism and therefore make students feel more comfortable to use the facilities. They will also act as a deterrent to the minority of students whose behaviour and use of these spaces is unacceptable. They will be a temporary measure until the end of the academic year giving us time to achieve our longer-term goal, which is the repurposing and refurnishing of the existing single sex spaces into self-contained unisex toilets.”
Carlton le Willows Academy is an 11–18 mixed, secondary school and sixth form with academy status in Gedling. It is located on Wood Lane, and it is part of the Greater Nottingham Education Trust.
In a further statement for Nottinghamshire Live, the Acting Headteacher Rod Bond-Taylor said: "We wrote to parents this week sharing our decision to install cameras in the communal spaces within toilet blocks at Carlton le Willows. This carefully considered move follows feedback from students who felt uncomfortable using the toilets during the school day and is designed to keep those spaces free from damage and disruption.
"The cameras in each of our single sex toilet areas, will be strategically located so they look along the line of cubicles, along the top of cubicles and along the line of sinks. They will not focus inside toilet cubicles or into the urinal areas in the boys’ toilets.
"Many parents have expressed their support of the measure which is designed to keep the areas clean, calm and comfortable spaces for their children to use safely. "
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