Parents complain of children having had toileting “accidents” at south London academy, with bathrooms locked, as trust also faces questions over CCTV installed in washrooms

Situation at school run by England’s largest academy trust shines spotlight on debate over toilet access, while information from ICO appears to counsel against cameras in toilets.

 

Children are having to queue up to use the toilet because these facilities are kept locked throughout much of the school day by an academy run by England’s largest chain, a parent is warning, in concerns which also highlight the school’s use of CCTV in toilet washing areas.

Sedgehill Academy, which joined the United Learning Trust in 2020, is facing scrutiny over how it manages the toilet facilities, in a case which may shine some light on developments in other secondary schools.

Anonymous responses from three parents at this school all included accounts of their children having wet or soiled themselves or had periods leaking through their clothing, having failed to reach the toilet.

This comes despite a children’s bowel and bladder charity warning that: “Banning toilet breaks during lessons or restricting access to the toilets can aggravate or even create bowel and bladder problems.”

The school also has CCTV cameras in toilet washing areas despite the Information Commissioner’s Office having appeared to warn against this, saying the use of such cameras was “unlikely to be proportionate in most circumstances”.

The school has yet to respond to a request for comment.