Mum slams Hellesdon High School strict toilet policy

Hellesdon High School, which is part of the Wensum Trust, has enraged parents over the incident and they are calling for a change in its approach or said they will take their children out of the school.

The mum of the boy said her son had pleaded with teachers to let him use the toilet just after they had been locked following his lunch break but he was told he had to wait until class.

Under the school’s policy, students can only use toilets during their breaks and at all other times they must be accompanied by a teacher who has a key to the locked doors.

The 33-year-old mum said: "My son, who's in year seven, experienced a humiliating situation during lunch break.

Hellesdon High School has come under fire ever since introducing its controversial toilet policy (Image: Newsquest)

"He requested to use the restroom but was denied and instructed to wait until class.

"Despite his efforts to ask for assistance in class, he was told to wait for a teacher’s aid.

"As a result, he ended up urinating on himself in front of his classmates.

"I'm extremely upset and outraged that such a situation could occur in a place that's supposed to prioritise the well-being and safety of students.

"This incident has left a lasting impact on my son, asking me if he could skip school because he's getting bullied after what happened.

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"I can usually let things go but this has made me so angry.

"If nothing changes by the end of the year I'll be thinking of transferring him out, whether to another school or even home schooling him."

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A spokeswoman for Hellesdon High School said: "Following ongoing concerns about behaviour, truancy and vandalism, a decision was made last year to lock toilets after lesson times begin and unlock them before and after school, at break and at lunchtimes.

"Students are well aware and with a 45 minute break at lunchtime, allows plenty of time to use the toilet before the bell rings.

"Students know they're expected to use the toilet before the bell rings, however, once in class, students are still able to use the toilet with the permission of their teacher."

Hellesdon High School said the 45-minute lunch break allows plenty of time to use the toilet (Image: Newsquest)

HELLESDON'S CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY

The school first came under fire from parents after it defended its decision to install CCTV monitoring students in the communal spaces of its toilet facilities to "ensure the safety of all pupils".

However one parent said it was "sickened" by the cameras saying: "My daughter had a period accident and couldn't clean herself up because of where the camera is placed. She felt like she was being watched."

It was at the centre of controversy again in early 2023 for its strict toilet policy which meant pupils had to be accompanied by a member of staff to the toilets.

But some people like Deborah Green, a grandparent of three pupils at the school, said children have lost their "basic human rights" due to the rule.

One parent, Richard Harvey, pulled his 12-year-old daughter Ruby from the school after he claimed she was denied use of the toilets.

He said: "The school has taken the cheap and easy way out of trying to fix its vandalism issue but it promotes bad hygiene and self-care."

Richard Harvey took his daughter, Ruby Harvey, out of Hellesdon High School after claiming she was denied use of the toilets (Image: Richard Harvey)