11 February 2023 , 14:50
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Pupils at a school in England were forced to walk out on strike after it barricaded their toilets.
Dozens of schoolchildren walked out in protest at the installation of metal barriers being installed outside toilet entrances, which has been supported by the parents.
Parents have also been left fuming, and have slammed the school, saying that it has implemented "ridiculous rules" that do not take into consideration the needs of the pupils.
Others have also been left concerned that the move is "humiliating" for girls, as they sometimes "don’t know when" their period is coming, so would need to use the bathrooms at any given time.
In a shock move, the barriers, which have appeared at The Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, are apparently locked during lessons, report StokeOnTrent Live.
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Reportedly, they are only open during break and lunchtimes.
Parents have slammed the instillation of the locked metal barriers, saying the move is 'humiliating' (BPM MEDIA)Now, angry parents have planned to stage a protest outside of the academy on Monday morning, requesting the school "cut" the rule and gates.
And the pupils already staged a protest in fury over the barriers, with one mum saying that 70 pupils left the school on Tuesday, February 7.
She said that her son was part of the strike, after she pulled him out of lessons.
The 30-year-old mum said that she was looking through a social media app when she saw the barriers and upon questioning her son about it she phoned the school.
She explained: "I was flicking through Snapchat when I saw one of the gates. I asked my son, ‘Are there gates on the toilets?' He said ‘yes’.
"I phoned the office and asked them about it. I said ‘send my son home now'. They asked me why and I told them ‘because I said so, that’s why'. My son asked to go to the toilet and he was told 'no'. He wasn't allowed and he has a medical pass."
The mum then went on to explain that the parents have decided to protest against the barriers, as they wish for the school to respect the pupils just as they do the staff.
She said: “The parents are taking a stand against the school. I just hope that they see things from our point of view and cut the ridiculous rules.
"The kids are going to rebel even more, the behaviour is going to be worse. If you teach children respect then they give you respect back. Treating them like animals is going to make them bad.”
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Parents believe that the barriers have been installed as a way of cracking down on phone use in the bathrooms during lessons, and following recent vandalism.
Parents will also be staging a protest at Discovery Academy on Monday (BPM MEDIA)But there are also concerns that the move is 'humiliating' for girls.
While medical passes are said to be available for pupils - which would enable them to use the toilet at any time - one mum has said that the move is "disgusting".
Another mum 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.”
News of the barriers come following high tensions at the school after the parents were left offended by comments regarding make-up made in an assembly earlier this week.
One mum said: "A bit of make-up is not affecting their chances. Covering a spot on your cheek at that age is important to them because they've got low self-esteem, but it doesn’t mean they won’t go anywhere in life."
The school has not commented on when the barriers are opened and locked and who qualifies for a medical pass.
A spokesman for Alpha Academies Trust (AAT), which runs The Discovery Academy, 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."