Mum hits out over school's move to lock toilets during lesson times

SON LEFT 'IN AGONY' OVER BAN

- KATIE TIMMS

A PLYMOUTH mum has hit out after her son walked home from school, claiming he was not allowed to use the school toilet and they were also locked.

Victoria Rixon's son, who attends Hele's School in Plympton, arrived home from school early and when asked why, he said he was in "agony" and needed to use the loo urgently.

Mrs Rixon asked why he couldn't use the school toilet - and after being told he was refused, his mother has given him permission to leave class to use the toilets at home. It comes as Hele's introduced a new trial which sees all toilets across the school locked during lesson times, except for the maths block.

While Hele's School said it cannot comment on individual cases, it said that it "can provide assurance that no student is ever refused permission to use the toilet in case of an emergency", adding that its "primary concern remains the welfare and comfort of every student".

Mrs Rixon said she was "disgusted" when she heard about the changes. She said while the maths block is open, pupils are "watched" by a member of staff, which she said will make some pupils uncomfortable. She said she felt the school were "denying children their basic right to attend to their natural functions" But principal Justine Mason says the new toilet policy trial is in response to feedback from pupils.