A school has banned children from using the toilets during lessons in a bid to combat vaping, sparking outrage from parents.
Winton Community Academy in Andover, Hampshire, says its policy is to “protect students from exposure to vaping”.
But concerned parents said the policy led to their children having accidents and potentially being embarrassed when girls experienced their first period.
The new rules were introduced at the start of the academic year in the hope that they would also stop bullying and reduce disruption to learning.
Winton Community Academy in Andover, Hampshire, (pictured) says the policy is to ‘protect students from exposure to vaping’
Government attempts to crack down on vaping amid concerns about children’s access (stock image)
Mother Kayleigh Gilbert, whose 11-year-old and stepson attend the school, said: “I went through so many emotions and was really angry and upset that my children weren’t allowed to do a natural thing.
“You’re told you shouldn’t hold your pee, so it’s really dangerous.
“Why should my kids suffer just because other kids wanted to vape.”
The 32-year-old has since requested a toilet pass for her autistic son.
Rebecca Ewen, 37, whose disabled daughter attends the school, shares a similar view.
She said things got so bad that she pulled her daughter out of school.
The mother has two children, aged 13 and 15, and said she also asked for a toilet pass.
She said: “It makes me extremely frustrated and angry because you feel completely helpless because no matter how hard you try and message the school, they just don’t seem to listen.”
“It’s just mortifying that my daughter has to get up and argue with the teachers about going to the bathroom.
“Imagine yourself as a young girl in front of your class and having to talk about your period.”
Another mother of two, who wished to remain anonymous, and whose daughter also attends the school, said the situation was “particularly difficult” for young girls who are starting their periods.
Rebecca Ewen, 37, said things were so bad she had taken her daughter out of school.
Mother Kayleigh Gilbert has since requested a toilet pass for her autistic son.
Nadezhda Kurnosov, whose 13-year-old daughter attends the school, said the situation was so bad that her daughter had stopped drinking at school.
The mother-of-two, 34, said: “It makes me very sad and I have tried to contact the school and all they say is they will sort it out.
“My daughter has gotten to the point where she doesn’t want anything to drink and she comes out of school desperate for a drink.”
This comes as the government tries to pass the tobacco and vaping bill.
Therefore, anyone born after January 1, 2009 will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes.
It would also give the government power to combat youth vaping, with restrictions on flavors and new rules on the packaging and sale of vapes.
Concerns have been raised about children’s access to vaping products, which are often flavored like popular candy and soft drinks.
A spokesperson for Winton Community Academy said: “To be clear, pupils are not prevented from using the toilet between lessons, before or after school.
“We unfortunately have to monitor the bathrooms, due to the need to protect students from exposure to vaping.”
“Additionally, historically, school bathrooms were places where bullying could take place, which is why we monitor the facilities to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.
“Like most secondary schools across the country, we ask students to use the toilets before and after classes to avoid disrupting their learning.
“If a child has a medical need that means they also have to go during school hours, they are given a pass to avoid embarrassment.
“Any child in an emergency situation – whether they desperately need to go to the toilet or are period bound – are allowed to leave the classroom and go to the toilet.
“After listening to families’ concerns, we monitored wait times to use the restroom during recess and at no time did a student have to wait more than 30 seconds to a minute.
“In the future, we will have additional toilets in our new building which will open this summer. »
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