Hellesdon High School defends toilet policy after complaint

Lisa Hall, who lives in Mile Cross with her five children, says she is "disgusted" at Hellesdon High School's policy after one of her daughters, 14-year-old Grace, was locked in a toilet block last Tuesday morning.

The school however say "the pupils had every opportunity to leave the toilets" before they were locked.

Ms Hall said: "I was getting ready for work and Grace phoned me to say she'd been locked in the school toilets.

"I called the school who got a caretaker to unlock them so they could get out but they'd ended up in there for just over an hour.

Two pupils were locked in a toilet block at Hellesdon High School on March 12 (Image: Newsquest)

"I think it's disgusting and if the doors weren't locked in the first place this wouldn't have happened.

"Children are having their basic human rights taken away and it causes issues like this."

The school, which is part of the Wensum Trust, has faced criticism previously for its policy of pupils having to be escorted to the toilets during lesson times and CCTV being installed in communal areas.

A Hellesdon High spokesman said: "Pupils are aware of our school rules which include arriving at lessons on time.

"At the start of period one, a male member of staff checked the toilets in A Block by knocking on the door three times.

"He also called into the toilet to ensure no one was inside and announced that the toilets were going to be locked but didn't get a response.

"We've reviewed our CCTV which shows the two students respond to the knock on the door by the teacher and hide in a cubicle.

Lisa Hall, parent to one of the pupils who was locked in the toilet, said if the toilets weren't locked this would never had happened (Image: Lisa Hall)

"The two pupils had every opportunity to leave the toilets - and in good time - before they were locked."

The school added it had spoken to both the children about the incident.

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But Ms Hall stands by the fact her daughter didn't hear the teacher, adding: "If no one answers they should still go in and check.

"If they're worried about a teacher from the opposite sex entering then they should have someone of the same sex going in.

"If someone was passed out they wouldn't have responded and it could've become a much more serious issue."

Hellesdon High's statement in full

"Pupils are aware of our school rules which include arriving at lessons on time.

"To prevent students from playing truant, a decision was made last year to lock toilets after lesson times begin and unlock them for use before break and lunch times.

"On Tuesday the bell rang at 8.20am and again at 8.25am to signal the start of the school day.

"At the start of period one, a male member of staff checked the toilets in A Block by knocking on the door three times.

Hellesdon High School say there was no attempt to leave the toilets by the two pupils (Image: Newsquest)

"He also called into the toilet to ensure no one was inside and announced that the toilets were going to be locked.

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"The teacher didn't get a response and the doors were locked before the pupils were let out of the toilet after they called a parent, who alerted us.

"We've reviewed our CCTV which shows the two students respond to the knock on the door by the teacher and hide in a cubicle.

"They then make no attempt to leave the toilets until 9.30am. The two pupils had every opportunity to leave the toilets and in good time, before they were locked."