Shadow Minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS, is calling on Rhyl High School to reverse its new arrangements on toilet opening times after being contacted by a parent concerned pupils can only go at limited times of the day.
 
Darren, who has constituents who attend the school, has been told that shutters have been installed on all of the loos within the school and that they are locked for 90 per cent of the day, with them now only open at the start, end and during break time.
 
This is causing problems for some pupils, particularly those with medical conditions.
 
Darren is therefore calling on the school to review the new policy.
   
He said:
 
“I was shocked to learn of these new arrangements at Rhyl High after being contacted by a constituent.
 
“Preventing pupils from going to the loo when they need to can give rise to health issues and shows a complete lack of consideration to the needs of girls who may need access due to the sudden onset of their period. 
 
“It almost certainly discriminates against those with health conditions, treating them differently to other pupils and forcing them to disclose medical information they would rather keep private.
 
“While I appreciate that managing access to toilets may be important to address unacceptable behaviour and truancy, the approach that appears to have been adopted by Rhyl High is draconian, unnecessary, and totally at odds with Welsh Government guidance.
 
“I urge them to reverse this policy as soon as possible.”
 
The concerned father, Jamie Wakeman, who contacted Darren said:  
 
“Children are being forced to wait minimum of two hours and 10 minutes to go to the loo; a basic human need.
 
“The school requires a pupil to have health issues to provide them with a ‘toilet pass’, which I think is unacceptable. They are young adults and should not have to deal with things like this.
 
“These shutters were put in place at the start of the new academic year. My stepdaughter asked to go the toilet, and when she was told ‘no’, she was in tears in class.
 
“The only realisation we had of it was when she came home and told us. I couldn’t believe it; it’s ridiculous.
 
“It’s supposedly to stop people vaping in the toilets.“She doesn’t need a toilet pass, she just needs the doors opening.”