Parents’ anger after school removes door from the boys’ toilet
The school says it is to prevent vandalism and to make boys more comfortable about entering the room
FUMING parents have said a school's decision to take away the doors to the boys toilets has left their children embarrassed and with a lack of privacy.
The doors have been taken off for a trial period to attempt to reduce anxiety pupils may have have about using them, and is also hoped to reduce vandalism.
But parents complained to Penrice Academy, St Austell School in Cornwall as they say it is embarrassing children.
They have said removing the doors is not the same as having purpose-built open facilities.
Stacie Olver whose 12-year-old son is in Year 7 said: "My son doesn't like using public toilet facilities as it is and he really doesn't want to use these now."
Another parent who asked not to be named said: "The problem is that these toilets have urinals and there isn't the privacy there.
"Girls are having to avert their eyes when they are walking past and a lot of the boys are now feeling uncomfortable using the toilets.
"If the problem is vandalism then they need to deal with that - this is just silly."
In a statement posted on the school's Facebook page principal Richard Baker said: "Many schools now have mixed facilities and/or use an open entrance to reduce student concern or anxiety about suing the facilities.
RELATED ARTICLES
"Talking to the Penrice students I have decided to remove the outer doors of the boys' toilets for a trial period.
"This decision was taken due to small amounts of vandalism, but more importantly that younger students identified the toilets as an area of the school where sometimes they felt uneasy about entering."
He said the response from children and others since the decision was made had been "overwhelmingly supportive".
He added: "All safeguarding aspects of this decision have been reviewed to ensure that privacy is not compromised for any student or member of staff.
"By the end of term I will make a final decision on how to move forward and I am now working hard to secure the funding to upgrade the facilities across the school."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368.