Parents slam school for fitting metal barred doors on pupil toilets

‘It’s not a prison!’ Dozens of angry parents protest outside school after it installed metal bars over toilet doors and lock them during lessons to encourage pupils to go at ‘regular set times’

• The metal bars were installed at Bentliee’s Discovery Academy, in Staffordshire
• Parents indignant with rage have claimed the toilets are locked during lessons

Dozens of furious parents have marched on a school they have branded a ‘prison’ after it installed metal bars over toilet doors. 

About 50 people rallied at Bentilee’s Discovery Academy, in Staffordshire, as a row over the school’s controversial toilet policies deepened today. 

It comes after dozens of children ‘walked out’ of lessons in protest over the ‘humiliating’ new metal barriers, which are allegedly locked during lessons.

The barred gates are reportedly unlocked during break and lunch periods and were fitted to encourage pupils to go to the toilet ‘at regular times’.

But parents have been left indignant with rage and blasted the school, claiming their children are being treated like inmates, with one father, Rob Cooper, 39, saying: ‘Toilets are a human right. It’s a school for children not a prison.’

Parents indignant with rage have marched on Bentilee’s Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Staffordshire after the school installed barred gates to its toilet facilities 

Dozens of children walked out of school last week following the implementing of the ‘humiliating’ toilet barriers at The Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Staffordshire

More than 50 parents reportedly joined the protest on Monday morning 

Protesters – which included children – began massing at about 9am on Monday, waving placards saying ‘no bars on toilets’, ‘basic human rights’ and ‘it’s not a jail’.  

READ MORE: Dozens of pupils ‘walked out in protest’ after school installed locked metal barriers outside toilets’

The chief executive of the trust that runs the academy came out to speak to the crowd, as police officers monitored demonstrators.   

Among those there included Tracey Barnett. The 43-year-old, of Bentilee, has a 12-year-old son at the school and lashed out over its Draconian toilet rules.  

‘On Friday he asked the teacher twice to use the toilet and they refused to let him go,’ she said. 

Others raised concerns about bullying during the protests, after footage emerged of a girl allegedly being attacked in the academy’s canteen. 

Sharon Gratton, 51, claimed her daughter had been picked on for 18 months. Speaking to Stoke-on-Trent Live, she said: ‘I had numerous meetings and they said they’d sorted – but they hadn’t. I sorted it myself by speaking to the other parent in the end. It affected her learning badly.’

This morning those attending the protest wrote their concerns into a book which will be handed in to the school. 

Simon French, who is chief executive of Alpha Academies Trust (AAT), which runs school, spoke directly to the protesters, saying there would be a parents’ meeting on Thursday to go through feedback 

Children joined those demonstrating outside the school, which is run by Alpha Academies Trust 

Police kept a watchful eye on the protesters on Monday morning 

Simon French, chief executive of Alpha Academies Trust, spoke to protesters during the demonstration. Pictured: the demonstration in full swing 

‘As a trust we’re only going to solve this by working together. It’s got to be mutual respect from both sides,’ he added. 

Parents believe the barriers have been installed after recent vandalism and concerns that children are going on their phones in the toilets during lessons.

However, there are also concerns that the move is ‘humiliating’ for girls.

One mother said: ‘Girls of a certain age need to use the toilet – sometimes at short notice. It’s hard enough being a girl at that age never mind bleeding through in front of your whole class. I’m not having my daughter humiliated.

‘With periods young girls don’t know when they are coming. You try to prepare as much as possible but there are still incidents. You can’t prepare for an upset stomach, I think it’s disgusting.’

In a statement prior to the protest the trust didn’t comment on when the barriers are opened and locked and who qualifies for a medical pass. 

An AAT spokesperson said: ‘At AAT we have high expectations of learning and clear processes in place to support. We have high standards of uniform ready for the world ahead and have processes in place for those who truant. 

‘We encourage students to go to the toilet at regular set times during the day and support those with medical needs by accessing toilets at any time. 

‘Parental engagement is extremely important to us and we value opportunities to listen to concerns and explain the reasons for our decisions.’

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