Gateacre School says students must not use bathroom during lesson times and those who do must make up time in detention
Gateacre School in Liverpool(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
Parents at a Liverpool secondary school say they are “disgusted” by a new policy which bans pupils from using the toilet during classroom hours. Leaders at Gateacre School issued a notice to parents over the weekend, ahead of pupils returning to school after the Easter holidays. The notice covered a number of issues including what equipment students should have, arrival arrangements and rules around attendance and punctuality.
But there was one area of the notice that stood out to parents and carers – and is causing lots of anger. The school has informed parents that there will be set times when students can use the toilet, making clear these times are before school, during break time, lunchtime and after school – and not during lessons.
The notice states: “We want to ensure that every student remains focused and fully engaged during their lessons. To help minimise disruptions to their learning and ensure student comfort, we provide multiple opportunities and dedicated spaces for students to use the facilities.”
The school says it “understands that sometimes a student may need to leave a classroom during the day to use the toilet,” adding that specific support is in place for these situations, including verified medical passes for those with conditions who can leave lessons at any time.
But the school notice adds that children who “step out of class” are expected to catch up on any missed learning, adding: “This ensures they maintain their academic progress and stay fully engaged with the curriculum.”
In a plea to parents, the school’s message adds: “We kindly ask for your partnership in encouraging your child to use the toilet facilities during non-lesson time whenever possible. This helps them build strong time-management habits and ensures they don’t miss out on vital teacher instruction or class discussions.”
The reaction to the new rules, which were communicated to parents on Saturday, has been a strong one. Parents spoke to the ECHO on the condition of anonymity, claiming this was from fear of their children being singled out or targeted.
One parent said: “It’s just absolutely ridiculous. A lot of kids have anxiety about going into this school as it is and this is just making things so much worse.
“It feels very extreme. If a child has to go to the toilet they will have to make that time up? So will a teacher be stood there timing how long they take in the toilet?
Gateacre School in Liverpool(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
“This feels like they are trying to set them up for the army. In the world of work you wouldn’t get penalised for going to the toilet. My kid is dreading going in.”
Another parent added: “I think it is absolutely disgusting.
“You cannot control when you need to use the toilet, so times should not be restricted. I think this is particularly an issue for females in the school who may be menstruating.
“There are very few toilets for so many children and there is no way possible for them to all use them at break or lunch, so they are in a lose-lose situation. Go to the toilet, be late for class and get a detention or don’t go to the toilet, ask to go in class and get a detention.”
The school has also announced that specific toilet blocks will now be designated for different year groups, with a member of staff stationed outside each toilet block during opening times.
Other rules outlined in the pack sent to parents include a blanket ban on any mobile phones being used during school hours. The notice says that if a student uses their phone to arrange being collected by a parent, they will be assigned to the “Internal Reflection Room” until 4.40pm the following day.
The school also says it is “relentlessly focused on attendance and punctuality,” adding that all students must be on site by 8.36am and any arriving after 9am will serve a same-day, after-school detention.
It’s not the first time that Gateacre School and its headteacher Nabil Jamil have clashed with parents in recent years. In May last year the ECHO reported on a row over claims that the school was demanding pupils keep their arms in the air for a period of time each morning, with one parent describing this as a forced salute.
School bosses argued this was simply a ‘simple, calm, and highly efficient strategy designed to gain attention and ensure a peaceful start to the day’.
Gateacre is one of a number of local schools operated by the Northern Schools Trust. The trust was approached for a response.