The Mosslands School install barriers outside main toilets

The Mosslands School in Wallasey says they have introduced the gates to allow the toilets to be "closed and cleaned during lesson times".

In a newsletter to parents last week (January 25), headteacher of The Mosslands School, Adrian Whitley, confirmed that the gates were being implemented. 

It read: "Following the national trend, we are in the process of installing barriers to the main toilet blocks on the A block corridor, which will allow the toilets to be closed and cleaned during lesson times. 

"These toilets will be open before school and at break and lunch times to allow children to use the toilets as normal.  During lesson time, although the main school toilets will be locked, teachers will be able to provide toilet passes for children to use accessible toilets at their discretion. 

"Any child with additional toileting requirements or currently with a toilet pass will continue to use the toilets by the SEN Department or by the main office as normal."

The gates on the toilet (Image: NQ)

'Against human rights'

One parent took to social media, revealing that their son, who is a student at the school has said "the queues for the toilets during break are so long you can’t always go anyway".

Others have reacted to the news on social media, with some saying it is "against human rights" to not allow students to access the toilet during lesson time.

One wrote: "Surely this is against basic human rights? Absolutely shocking!"

Another added: "I’ve phoned the school many times about them not allowing my boys to use the toilet during lesson time. It’s basic human rights."

In a comment to the Globe, Mr Whitley said: "Like many schools, we have installed gates to the toilets by the playground exit, which will allow the toilets to be closed and cleaned during lesson times, but can be seen through to stop any chance on anyone being locked in. 

"I wrote to parents in the newsletter last week to inform them out of courtesy, in practice there is very little change. These toilets remain open before school, at break and lunch times (with the usual additional transition time), at the end of period 6 and after form-time to allow children to use the toilets as normal.  

"During lesson time, teachers will still be able to provide toilet passes for children to use accessible toilets at their discretion as is currently the case, just not the toilets near the playground entrance. 

"Any child with additional toileting requirements or currently with a toilet pass will continue to use the accessible toilets around the school and by the main office as normal.

"The gates aren't particularly attractive but as we are in the process of building a completely new school, they are a cost effective, practical solution at the moment.  All of the other toilets already have lockable doors."