Latest news with #schoolpolicies
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Students say school toilet rules create anxiety
Students say they have been left feeling embarrassed and anxious due to "baffling" school toilet restrictions. Holly, from Pentyrch, Cardiff, said she would frequently be denied permission to go to the toilet during class, or struggle to find one that was not "locked off", which contributed to her decision to be home-schooled. "I don't understand why, it's a normal, natural human thing," she said. It comes after a UK-wide survey found 65% of students were unable to access toilets at their school freely at any time. Cardiff council said it acknowledged the challenges faced by schools but was committed to working with them to find solutions for pupils to access toilets when needed. Holly, who is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder, previously attended Radyr Comprehensive School but began being home-schooled with an online tutor in January 2024. The 15-year-old said toilet rules were a "major contributor" in the decision. "Sometimes we would have to ask in front of the class and we would be denied, sometimes we would have to tell them why we needed to go to the toilet," she said. "It was hugely embarrassing, you would toy with yourself [as to] whether you had the confidence to put up your hand and ask. It's a big feeling of potential judgement." Holly said she and her friends had "bled through our underwear", adding: "One of my friends bled through onto a chair and had to do a walk of shame. It was one of her first periods and people made fun of her for weeks." She said some toilets were "locked off" during class time, to stop pupils going to certain parts of the school. 'Unfair' to call parents into school to change nappies No working toilets and zombie knives in 'vile' housing for kids Are rules on going to school toilets too strict? Holly added there was "massive inequality" for menstruating students, who sometimes had to detour to the school office to get period products. "Even the women in the school act like they don't understand what it's like. "I don't understand why period products can't be in the toilets." She said she accepted that misbehaviour in the toilets - such as vandalism, vaping and truancy - was a concern for staff, but she wanted them to "address those issues" instead of "punishing good students". Holly eventually secured a toilet pass, which meant teachers had to allow her out, but said she still faced challenges. "I am autistic, so the toilets were a space where I could regulate," she explained, adding if she took too long someone would "bang on the door" or think she was "skiving off". She said this could lead to being overwhelmed. "One thing gets bigger and bigger until I feel like I am going to explode, and then I can't go back to class and I miss valuable learning time." She said she was now "much happier" as she could "do what I need to, when I need to". Holly's mum, Jo Wallace, said she was "baffled" by the toilet rules, adding teenagers were "expected to be very mature and make big life decisions" but also "not trusted" to use the toilets. "I can't understand how schools have got to this point," she said. "I think it's laziness, because I think there are ways they could address issues without blocking [toilets] off. "They need to realise it's having a very detrimental effect." She added: "It's a difficult time getting your period in school, and they have so much pressure on them already. "I went to Radyr myself and it wasn't like that, we had access to the toilets at all points, it wasn't an issue." Ms Wallace said she understood teachers had to follow policies, but questioned the "benefit" of the rules on "children who are just trying to get through the day". A UK-wide survey by Caerphilly-based company phs Group, in partnership with menstrual justice charity Irise International, found 65% of students were unable to access toilets at their school freely at any time. Of these, 29% needed permission from a teacher to leave the classroom and 15% required a pass to be issued. Of the 501 teachers who took part, 5% reported school toilets being locked at some point during the school day, including break times, with 4% saying they were shut all the time. And16% said they had prevented a student who had periods from using the bathroom during class, with reasons including students wanting to skip lessons or meet friends. About 30% felt students on their periods should wait until the end of a lesson. Erin, a sixth form student at Bedwas High School in Caerphilly county, said following renovations to the school toilets, facilities were now designated to different year groups but were not equal in terms of access to sanitary products and bins. The 17-year-old said toilets were locked during lessons and permission was mostly denied apart from a "handful" of times, "if you say it's an emergency". "When I've needed to go to change my period products, I've been refused. Because I really needed to go, I decided to speak out in class about why [and] ended up walking out and been told off," she said. Like Holly, Erin said she understood "behavioural issues" were the reason for the restrictions, but added it was unfair on others. "Not everyone can raise their voice in class and say exactly why they need to go. And having to do this in front of teachers and boys in the class could be embarrassing. "One of my friends was too shy to speak up, and she leaked through her uniform." Cardiff council said more than £1m had been invested through its Period Dignity initiative which aims to improve school facilities "to ensure dignity for learners". "Secondary schools are provided with a variety of period products, and dispensers have been installed in school toilets to ensure easy access to period products without needing to ask staff," it said. "We acknowledge the challenges some schools face in keeping toilet facilities free from anti-social behaviour and ensuring safeguarding, which may lead to restricted use during the day. However, we are committed to working with schools to find solutions that ensure pupils can access toilets when needed." Caerphilly council said toilet regulations were made by schools, adding it recommended parents discuss any issues with their child's school directly by following the complaints policy. People avoid drinking over lack of public toilets BBC reporter spent six hours on floor of accessible toilet Pupils opt for gender-neutral loos at new school
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Students say school toilet rules create anxiety
Students say they have been left feeling embarrassed and anxious due to "baffling" school toilet restrictions. Holly, from Pentyrch, Cardiff, said she would frequently be denied permission to go to the toilet during class, or struggle to find one that was not "locked off", which contributed to her decision to be home-schooled. "I don't understand why, it's a normal, natural human thing," she said. It comes after a UK-wide survey found 65% of students were unable to access toilets at their school freely at any time. Cardiff council said it acknowledged the challenges faced by schools but was committed to working with them to find solutions for pupils to access toilets when needed. Holly, who is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder, previously attended Radyr Comprehensive School but began being home-schooled with an online tutor in January 2024. The 15-year-old said toilet rules were a "major contributor" in the decision. "Sometimes we would have to ask in front of the class and we would be denied, sometimes we would have to tell them why we needed to go to the toilet," she said. "It was hugely embarrassing, you would toy with yourself [as to] whether you had the confidence to put up your hand and ask. It's a big feeling of potential judgement." Holly said she and her friends had "bled through our underwear", adding: "One of my friends bled through onto a chair and had to do a walk of shame. It was one of her first periods and people made fun of her for weeks." She said some toilets were "locked off" during class time, to stop pupils going to certain parts of the school. 'Unfair' to call parents into school to change nappies No working toilets and zombie knives in 'vile' housing for kids Are rules on going to school toilets too strict? Holly added there was "massive inequality" for menstruating students, who sometimes had to detour to the school office to get period products. "Even the women in the school act like they don't understand what it's like. "I don't understand why period products can't be in the toilets." She said she accepted that misbehaviour in the toilets - such as vandalism, vaping and truancy - was a concern for staff, but she wanted them to "address those issues" instead of "punishing good students". Holly eventually secured a toilet pass, which meant teachers had to allow her out, but said she still faced challenges. "I am autistic, so the toilets were a space where I could regulate," she explained, adding if she took too long someone would "bang on the door" or think she was "skiving off". She said this could lead to being overwhelmed. "One thing gets bigger and bigger until I feel like I am going to explode, and then I can't go back to class and I miss valuable learning time." She said she was now "much happier" as she could "do what I need to, when I need to". Holly's mum, Jo Wallace, said she was "baffled" by the toilet rules, adding teenagers were "expected to be very mature and make big life decisions" but also "not trusted" to use the toilets. "I can't understand how schools have got to this point," she said. "I think it's laziness, because I think there are ways they could address issues without blocking [toilets] off. "They need to realise it's having a very detrimental effect." She added: "It's a difficult time getting your period in school, and they have so much pressure on them already. "I went to Radyr myself and it wasn't like that, we had access to the toilets at all points, it wasn't an issue." Ms Wallace said she understood teachers had to follow policies, but questioned the "benefit" of the rules on "children who are just trying to get through the day". A UK-wide survey by Caerphilly-based company phs Group, in partnership with menstrual justice charity Irise International, found 65% of students were unable to access toilets at their school freely at any time. Of these, 29% needed permission from a teacher to leave the classroom and 15% required a pass to be issued. Of the 501 teachers who took part, 5% reported school toilets being locked at some point during the school day, including break times, with 4% saying they were shut all the time. And16% said they had prevented a student who had periods from using the bathroom during class, with reasons including students wanting to skip lessons or meet friends. About 30% felt students on their periods should wait until the end of a lesson. Erin, a sixth form student at Bedwas High School in Caerphilly county, said following renovations to the school toilets, facilities were now designated to different year groups but were not equal in terms of access to sanitary products and bins. The 17-year-old said toilets were locked during lessons and permission was mostly denied apart from a "handful" of times, "if you say it's an emergency". "When I've needed to go to change my period products, I've been refused. Because I really needed to go, I decided to speak out in class about why [and] ended up walking out and been told off," she said. Like Holly, Erin said she understood "behavioural issues" were the reason for the restrictions, but added it was unfair on others. "Not everyone can raise their voice in class and say exactly why they need to go. And having to do this in front of teachers and boys in the class could be embarrassing. "One of my friends was too shy to speak up, and she leaked through her uniform." Cardiff council said more than £1m had been invested through its Period Dignity initiative which aims to improve school facilities "to ensure dignity for learners". "Secondary schools are provided with a variety of period products, and dispensers have been installed in school toilets to ensure easy access to period products without needing to ask staff," it said. "We acknowledge the challenges some schools face in keeping toilet facilities free from anti-social behaviour and ensuring safeguarding, which may lead to restricted use during the day. However, we are committed to working with schools to find solutions that ensure pupils can access toilets when needed." Caerphilly council said toilet regulations were made by schools, adding it recommended parents discuss any issues with their child's school directly by following the complaints policy. People avoid drinking over lack of public toilets BBC reporter spent six hours on floor of accessible toilet Pupils opt for gender-neutral loos at new school
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Toilet rules create anxiety over periods, say school pupils
Students say they have been left feeling embarrassed and anxious due to "baffling" school toilet from Pentyrch, Cardiff, said she would frequently be denied permission to go to the toilet during class, or struggle to find one that was not "locked off", which contributed to her decision to be home-schooled."I don't understand why, it's a normal, natural human thing," she comes after a UK-wide survey found 65% of students were unable to access toilets at their school freely at any council said it acknowledged the challenges faced by schools but was committed to working with them to find solutions for pupils to access toilets when needed. Holly, who is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder, previously attended Radyr Comprehensive School but began being home-schooled with an online tutor in January 15-year-old said toilet rules were a "major contributor" in the decision."Sometimes we would have to ask in front of the class and we would be denied, sometimes we would have to tell them why we needed to go to the toilet," she said."It was hugely embarrassing, you would toy with yourself [as to] whether you had the confidence to put up your hand and ask. It's a big feeling of potential judgement."Holly said she and her friends had "bled through our underwear", adding: "One of my friends bled through onto a chair and had to do a walk of shame. It was one of her first periods and people made fun of her for weeks."She said some toilets were "locked off" during class time, to stop pupils going to certain parts of the school. Holly added there was "massive inequality" for menstruating students, who sometimes had to detour to the school office to get period products."Even the women in the school act like they don't understand what it's like."I don't understand why period products can't be in the toilets."She said she accepted that misbehaviour in the toilets - such as vandalism, vaping and truancy - was a concern for staff, but she wanted them to "address those issues" instead of "punishing good students".Holly eventually secured a toilet pass, which meant teachers had to allow her out, but said she still faced challenges."I am autistic, so the toilets were a space where I could regulate," she explained, adding if she took too long someone would "bang on the door" or think she was "skiving off".She said this could lead to being overwhelmed."One thing gets bigger and bigger until I feel like I am going to explode, and then I can't go back to class and I miss valuable learning time."She said she was now "much happier" as she could "do what I need to, when I need to". 'There is so much pressure already' Holly's mum, Jo Wallace, said she was "baffled" by the toilet rules, adding teenagers were "expected to be very mature and make big life decisions" but also "not trusted" to use the toilets."I can't understand how schools have got to this point," she said."I think it's laziness, because I think there are ways they could address issues without blocking [toilets] off."They need to realise it's having a very detrimental effect."She added: "It's a difficult time getting your period in school, and they have so much pressure on them already."I went to Radyr myself and it wasn't like that, we had access to the toilets at all points, it wasn't an issue."Ms Wallace said she understood teachers had to follow policies, but questioned the "benefit" of the rules on "children who are just trying to get through the day". A UK-wide survey by Caerphilly-based company phs Group, in partnership with menstrual justice charity Irise International, found 65% of students were unable to access toilets at their school freely at any these, 29% needed permission from a teacher to leave the classroom and 15% required a pass to be the 501 teachers who took part, 5% reported school toilets being locked at some point during the school day, including break times, with 4% saying they were shut all the said they had prevented a student who had periods from using the bathroom during class, with reasons including students wanting to skip lessons or meet 30% felt students on their periods should wait until the end of a lesson. Erin, a sixth form student at Bedwas High School in Caerphilly county, said following renovations to the school toilets, facilities were now designated to different year groups but were not equal in terms of access to sanitary products and 17-year-old said toilets were locked during lessons and permission was mostly denied apart from a "handful" of times, "if you say it's an emergency"."When I've needed to go to change my period products, I've been refused. Because I really needed to go, I decided to speak out in class about why [and] ended up walking out and been told off," she Holly, Erin said she understood "behavioural issues" were the reason for the restrictions, but added it was unfair on others."Not everyone can raise their voice in class and say exactly why they need to go. And having to do this in front of teachers and boys in the class could be embarrassing."One of my friends was too shy to speak up, and she leaked through her uniform."Cardiff council said more than £1m had been invested through its Period Dignity initiative which aims to improve school facilities "to ensure dignity for learners"."Secondary schools are provided with a variety of period products, and dispensers have been installed in school toilets to ensure easy access to period products without needing to ask staff," it said."We acknowledge the challenges some schools face in keeping toilet facilities free from anti-social behaviour and ensuring safeguarding, which may lead to restricted use during the day. However, we are committed to working with schools to find solutions that ensure pupils can access toilets when needed."Caerphilly council said toilet regulations were made by schools, adding it recommended parents discuss any issues with their child's school directly by following the complaints policy.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
P.E.I. child and youth advocate questions inquiry into PSB's handling of Craswell case
Social Sharing Prince Edward Island's child and youth advocate is raising concerns about an upcoming review of school policies in the wake of a former substitute teacher's sex crimes case. The Progressive Conservative government ordered the third-party inquiry of Public Schools Branch policies and procedures spurred by the case of Matthew Alan Craswell. Craswell, 40, pleaded guilty last month to one count of sexual interference over the way in which he touched a young female student while teaching at Stratford's Glen Stewart Primary School during a classroom game in April 2024. Marvin Bernstein, the province's independent child and youth advocate, said it's "lamentable" that officials with the province's Education Department didn't reach out to his office directly after the case came to light. "A preferable course of action would have been early, proactive and direct communication with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate by the Department of Education and Early Years and the Public Schools Branch, particularly with respect to the advocate's statutory role of oversight of public bodies providing reviewable services to children and youth," Bernstein wrote in a letter released to the public Friday morning. He also noted that "constructive discussions" have since taken place between his office and provincial staff. Many questions were raised during the spring sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature after CBC News reported on Craswell's guilty plea on the sexual interference charge, as well as on three unrelated child pornography charges. Some questions from the opposition parties involved the fact that education officials did not notify either police or Child Protection Services officials about the complaints that Craswell had allegedly touched children inappropriately on two reported occasions. Allegations of similar behaviour at Charlottetown's West Kent Elementary School in 2023 eventually came to light during the police investigation. PSB officials also allowed Craswell to keep teaching at the high school level following the Stratford primary school investigation. Those facts led opposition MLAs to quiz the government over school officials' duty to report, a provision of the province's Child, Youth and Family Services Act that outlines the legal obligation for anyone to report a suspected case of child abuse to authorities as soon as possible. In his letter, Bernstein wrote that he was "troubled by the pervasive lack of understanding" around the duty to report, saying the province's focus should not be on providing school staff with more training on how to investigate complaints of misconduct. Instead, he said they may need retraining on their mandatory obligation to report incidents to the proper authorities, who would then investigate. "The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is deeply concerned with the perception that the private verification of protection concerns on the part of educators and other staff working in schools is required or precludes mandatory reporting to Child Protection Services or to the police," he wrote. Questions around review's independence The facts revealed in court as Craswell pleaded guilty led P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz to rise in the legislature to apologize to Island parents. The province later named P.E.I.'s former chief justice, David Jenkins, to head the third-party review of the Public Schools Branch and its practices. That process is set to begin June 2. Bernstein indicated in the letter that his office may also choose to conduct its own investigation that "would be systemic in nature, reaching conceptually and temporally beyond the specific case at hand and exercising the advocate's statutory power to compel information across government departments." While saying he holds Jenkins's career and reputation "in high esteem," the child and youth advocate raised concerns about the independence of the provincial review. "It must be noted that such a review, although conducted by a third party, remains government-directed, with the Department of Education and Early Years and Public Schools Branch controlling the terms of reference, compensation to the reviewer, and ultimately, the decision as to what content is publicly released and how this is done," Bernstein wrote. "In addition, a third-party review, in and by itself, does not provide the public with any assurance that there will be a mechanism for objectively monitoring and publicly reporting on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the third-party report." Premier welcomes involvement Asked on Thursday to respond to what Bernstein's embargoed news release said, Lantz said he welcomes an additional investigation conducted by the child and youth advocate, saying the matter needs "all the eyes that we can get." Island students continue to attend school every day, with no immediate actions taken to ensure... that schools are safer places today than they were before. "[Bernstein's] office is an independent office, and we can't direct him to undertake investigations. He actually has the independent authority to undertake an investigation of any kind that he sees fit to do," the premier told CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin. "In his letter, he's outlined that he may in fact do that, and I would encourage him." Lantz added that Jenkins will have broad and independent authority to conduct his review, and has the same powers to compel witnesses and documents as the child and youth advocate would have. WATCH | What Premier Rob Lantz had to say on the latest Matthew Craswell developments: What Premier Rob Lantz had to say on the latest Matthew Craswell developments 12 hours ago Duration 0:56 P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz says there are questions he's hoping a third-party review into the Matthew Craswell case will answer. The former substitute teacher pleaded guilty to sexual touching of a female student at Glen Stewart Primary School during a classroom game in 2024. Lantz says the Public Schools Branch will turn over timelines and documentation as part of the review process. Student rights 'cannot be placed on hold' Bernstein said he will review Jenkins's report once it's released, then will hold a public town hall meeting to get feedback on whether an independent investigation by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is needed. Meanwhile, Bernstein criticized the province for deferring any such public meetings to address the safety of children in Island schools until after the Jenkins review is complete. He said the rights of students "cannot be placed on hold while the third-party review is taking place out of a sense of convenience or for the avoidance of accountability... "The reality is that Island students continue to attend school every day, with no immediate actions taken to ensure ... that schools are safer places today than they were before recent information entered the public discourse," he said in the news release.
