Parents criticise the “disgust” felt by the school after closing the toilets with a metal door for a “ridiculous” reason that “punishes” the students

Parents have branded a secondary school “disgusting” after it placed barriers between frantic pupils and toilets during lessons as a measure to curb bad behaviour.

Dorcan Academy in Swindon has installed metal gates at the entrances to many of its toilets, forcing students with medical issues or just in desperate need to come to reception to use the toilet when they need it.

The school, for 11 to 16-year-olds, has been criticised for “punishing” its pupils to deal with “a few misbehaving students” with the move, which adds to a pre-existing expectation that students only use the toilet during breaks and lunch times.

An anonymous whistleblower described the back-to-school measure as contrary to “students’ human right to go to the bathroom.”

The only accessible toilets at the time are supervised by a staff member, raising further concerns that this could put students off out of embarrassment, when they really need to go for health reasons.

A father, speaking anonymously to the Swindon AdvertiserHe said: “It’s disgusting and shocking.”

However, Principal Sherryl Bareham said the school’s policy has always been that students can only go to the bathroom during lunch and breaks, except in cases of emergency.

However, many locals considered the move to install gates to be “draconian” and an “abuse of power”.

One said: ‘The rest of the student body does not need to be punished for a few misbehaving students.

“A student shouldn’t have to explain themselves to a teacher in front of the entire class for the teacher to decide if it’s a good enough reason to go to the bathroom. It’s ridiculous.”

Another commented: “The problem is that almost all schools are introducing such a policy and they don’t recognise that the human body is sometimes very unpredictable.”

One concerned neighbour added: “It’s understandable that bathrooms need to be monitored but not locked, especially at the ages these children are, with developing bodies.”

But many sided with the school and its principal in reacting to the new measure.

One Swindon resident said: “Well done headteacher. The children have too much control and not enough respect. Please use the toilet at break time. We all know they ask to go during lessons, maybe to vape or just to disrupt the lesson.”

“What’s wrong with going to the bathroom before class starts?” another asked.

“Teachers will do it, they won’t leave the school during a class to go to the bathroom. If a child has a health problem, it’s understandable, but let’s stop telling children they can do whatever they want whenever they want.”

Someone else commented: “This rule was always enforced in schools during my time. I remember one person having special dispensation, but that was it.”

Ms Bareham added: ‘Students have always been expected to use the toilet during breaks and lunch times rather than during lessons, unless it is an emergency.

‘This is to ensure that students’ learning is not interrupted.

‘Students with medical conditions are given a specific card that allows them to use the bathroom when they need to.

‘During class hours, students who need to use the bathroom will be asked to use a specific set of bathrooms supervised by a staff member.

‘This will ensure that the toilets are kept in excellent condition and safe for everyone to use.

‘The other bathrooms will remain closed and will only be open during breaks and lunch hours.’