School's Toilet Chaperone Policy Criticized as Potentially Harmful

A secondary school's plan to escort students to the toilet has drawn criticism from a campaigner who believes the policy could put pupils at risk and discourage them from seeking help for health concerns such as periods. Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Blaenau Gwent introduced the chaperones in response to vandalism and students spending excessive time out of lessons.

The school initially informed parents that all secondary-age pupils requesting to use the toilet during a lesson would be accompanied by a member of the pastoral team to the toilet block entrance. Following a meeting with student representatives, the policy was revised to apply only to pupils on stage three of the school's behavior policy or those with persistent attendance issues.

Molly Fenton, founder of the Love Your Period campaign, stated that she would have been unlikely to use school toilets if she had needed to be accompanied, and expressed concern that the policy could elevate stigmas surrounding toilet use in schools to a "whole new level." She highlighted existing issues where young people avoid using school toilets due to embarrassment, leading them to hold in bowel movements.

Fenton, who experienced severe period issues during her own schooling, recalled feeling isolated and unsure of what to do when facing such problems in the school toilets. She suggested that students would be even less likely to confide in a chaperone, especially given increased distrust in authority figures following the pandemic. Fenton emphasized the need for a cultural shift to make school toilets a shame and stigma-free environment.

Ebbw Fawr Learning Community stated that the new arrangements were implemented to address significant vandalism, which has caused thousands of pounds in damages over recent months, and prolonged absences from the classroom. The school noted that the incidents were most prevalent during the lessons immediately before and after the lunch break, leading to the decision to escort learners during these times.

The Welsh government indicated that school toilet policies are set by local councils and must ensure accessibility for all learners throughout the school day, taking into account their basic needs.