Needing the loo during lesson times at school can be a bit of a pain as kids need to put their hand up before they are allowed to leave, forcing them to hold on a bit longer and wait. But one school has taken their toilet policy to new heights, leaving some parents outraged.
The school has decided to barricade and lock toilets during lesson times, but the plan has been branded 'disgusting' by some parents as kids are left queueing for the loos at break times.
Castle View School in Essex took the decision in a bid to stop anti-social behaviour. But many pupils and parents have not been impressed with some even saying it sounds like a breach of human rights.
The school have defended their decision and claim that if a child needs to use the facilities during lesson time they need only ask the teacher for a pass but large queues have remained at breaks and lunches.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, is seriously unimpressed as she claimed: "It is against human rights and is disgusting. It is like they are in a prison.
"It is an absolute nightmare. My child felt sick at lunchtime and was left to just stand and queue. My child nearly had to be sick in the hallway, which is so embarrassing.
"These gates are on all the toilet blocks. I don't know any other secondary schools that have put an actual physical gate that can be locked."
The mum went onto say there was no notice of these changes as parents had no idea it was coming.
She said: "We haven't had any letters or emails about it, it is just so wrong. They don't always open all of them at lunch or break either because a teacher has to open them. So there are always long queues, and some days my child doesn't even eat because there isn't time to queue for food and the toilet.
"My child has anxiety around going to the toilet now, it is so bad."
The policy has also drawn complaints from pupils, as one 14-year-old said: "We are children, we don't need to be locked up. It shows an extreme lack of trust, which is understandable as we are kids, but the level they are going at is getting out of control.
"We understand why it was put in place to stop vaping and because of safeguarding issues. But if you want to stop that then put smoke detectors closer and use thermal cameras like other schools are."
In response, Castle View's Head Teacher Steve Durkin said: "Pupils are able to access all toilets before school, break times, and after school.
"If a pupil requires access to the toilet during lesson time, they request a pass from their teacher and are allowed access."
Schools across Essex have been attempting to tackle "bad behaviour" by closing toilets during lesson time.
Shoebury High School in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has previously used the same method, along with Mayflower High School in Billericay, Essex.
Meanwhile, the Deanes School in Thundersley, Essex, have created toilet pass cards to be used.
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