Pupils have reportedly 'flipped tables' during a tense protest at a West Country school. Trouble started after leaders at Penrice Academy in St Austell announced changes to the pupils' use of toilet facilities during class time.
The secondary school now only allows kids to use toilets outside of lessons and girls have to request red card passes when they are on their period. School bosses said it was important to minimise disruption during classes.
But today (Friday) things have reportedly erupted during a protest at the school. It is alleged that some students are "flipping tables", while someone else has been injured.
READ MORE: "I do the school run in my PJs - I only change if I go into the office"
A witness told Cornwall Live : "Just to let you know that my daughter has just called me to say the protest has got out of hand and students are flipping tables. The children are now not allowed out for break."
One parent has also told the school that an ambulance has arrived. Another said: "They've broken fences down goal posts are trashed bins smashed, kids are running off out of school.
"A kid has literally pulled a huge clump of hair out on the fence trying to climb in to use the toilet and badly injured herself. I've spoken to her, checked her over and contacted her parents."
The school has previously defended its new toilet policy, insisting it will never prevent pupils from going to the loo if they really are in need. But dozens of parents and pupils are not impressed. Some took to Facebook to express their outrage. One wrote: "Any human, child or adult should be allowed to use the toilets at any time. They are hardly going to 'please Sir I have a touch of diarrhoea'. Or please may I use the loo my periods have started'.
"If schools are all about care and nurturing children, some of these controlling and archaic rules need rethinking. Children and young adults do not have a desperate need to be embarrassed. Penrice academy and all the other schools need to rethink what's best for the child."
Schools throughout Bristol have similar policies, with one parent speaking out after her daughter was left “humiliated” when she couldn't use the loo when her period started.
UP NEXT:
