A secondary school has installed ‘cage doors’ with locks to allegedly prevent pupils from using the toilet during their lessons.
Students at Foxford Community School in Longford, Coventry, are now only allowed to go to the toilet during a lesson if they are supervised or at break time, it has been claimed.
Many people have been left ‘outraged’ by the move with one describing it as ‘disgusting’.
Ian Ward, 54, said his six grandchildren who all attend the school have been left ‘upset’ over the change and slammed it as ‘totally wrong’.
Students at Foxford Community School in Longford, Coventry, are now only allowed to go to the toilet during a lesson if they are supervised or at break time, it has been claimed
Mr Ward said that Foxford Community School installed the ‘cage doors’ on March 6 but they were already keeping the doors locked before to prevent children from using them during lessons.
He said: ‘Now they have fitted locked cage doors to prevent the kids from even getting near the toilets and have said the kids can only use the toilets during break times but not during lessons.’
‘Kids are only allowed to go to the toilet under supervision which is totally wrong. It is taking away the freedom of being able to use the toilet as and when you need it.
He added: ‘What if a child is on their period or has problems holding for a long time? I understand they have problems with kids in toilets, but to put metal doors on them is just going too far.’
Mr Ward described the move as ‘disgusting.’ He said: ‘School is supposed to be a safe place for kids and it is supposed to be a relaxed environment, but how it is a relaxed environment when they are locked up?’
Many people have been left ‘outraged’ by the move with one describing it as ‘disgusting’
Ian said his grandchildren were ‘upset’ about the change which he says has been enforced for every year group from Year 7 to Year 11.
Leaders are said to have made the change as they were having ‘issues with students in the toilets.’
But Mr Ward says this is not a reason to lock them and stop the children from using them.
He suggests having someone could sit by the toilets are certain times to prevent the problems instead.
A spokesman for Foxford Community School said: ‘We have recently installed metal doors to two toilet areas, these are not cages and the doors are unlocked before and after school, as well as at break and lunchtimes.’