FUMING parents have slammed two schools after is was discovered they had been illegally filming pupils in the toilets.
CCTV cameras were fitted inside the bathrooms at both Ballakermeen and Castle Rushen High School, in the Isle of Man.
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The illegal lenses, and new bathroom policy which banned students leaving class to visit the toilet, sparked fury among parents.
One wrote: “My children both attend BHS and neither of them vape or misuse the facilities in any way, yet are being denied their basic human right to go to the toilet when they need to.
Restricting students access to the toilet during lessons can indeed create various issues, including potential bottlenecks during break and lunch times, which could lead to overcrowding and students rushing to use the facilities within limited time periods
Claire Christian
“My daughter is anxious that she is going to have to disclose to male teachers when she is on her period. Its honestly disgraceful.”
Someone else agreed and penned: “A teacher cannot possibly know who really needs to go or not. They cannot see and should never assume, it is ludicrous.
“They can’t encourage this rule either as it is still a breach of human rights.”
“Punish the good kids for the behaviour of the minority? I know kids that are scared to drink at school because of this. I actually can’t believe this has even been considered,” added a third.
Too many students are asking to leave lessons and are missing large chunks of learning
Head teacher Mr Corrin
Another fuming parent commented: “I personally will be writing to the school to register my disgust with this rule and the reasons why I think they are discriminating against female students and putting them in potentially embarrassing situations.”
The Isle of Man’s information commissioner eventually ruled the cameras had to be removed – and were breaking the law.
It was confirmed in enforcement notices the schools were not complying with data protection legislation.
An island Department of Education, Sport and Culture (Desc) spokesman said cameras were not “pointing at the actual toilets”.
Both schools have complied with the enforcement notice.
DATA PROTECTION
The commissioner found that personal data was being processed through the toilet CCTV, and a data protection impact assessment hadn’t been carried out before hand.
The schools should have also provided “transparency information”, on their website for example, about the cameras – but they didn’t.
At present, a “proportion of the cameras” are now deactivated” and won’t be turned on “until approval has been received”.
‘SERIOUS’ VANDALISM
There had been worries over the cost of repairing secondary school bathrooms on the island as many were being damaged.
This concern was previously raised by Desc Minister Daphne Caine, who claimed one of the schools was forking out up to an eye-watering £1,000 a week to fix damages.
In a meeting with the Social Affairs and Policy Review Committee, Ms Caine told how the schools were facing broken doors, blocked up toilets, destroyed facilities and graffiti sprawled all over.
“There were serious amounts of vandalism and I would rather that money was being spent on education and other support,” she said.
BATHROOM POLICE
The rules surrounding bathroom use in various secondary schools up and down the country have ignited heated debates.
Both parents and students have been up in arms about restrictions on using the toilet during class time.
One school even put metal cages on the facilities so they couldn’t be accessed.
Similar scenes were seen at a Stoke-on-Trent Academy which saw more than 70 pupils walk out.
Meanwhile, an East Sussex school introduced shutters on selected bathrooms during lesson time.
In terms of addressing the underlying issues such as vaping and other misuse of the facilities, it’s important for schools to find a balance between maintaining discipline and ensuring that students’ BASIC needs are met
Claire Christian
At the Ballakermeen comprehensive, one of the schools ordered to turn off their CCTV, parents were told the children’s toilet visits were restricted to lunchtime and routine breaks.
Head teacher Graeme Corrin wrote in a letter that “too many students are asking to leave lessons and are missing large chunks of learning”.
If a pupil requested to go to the bathroom during a class they would be allowed in an “extraordinary situation”.
And, medical passes will be given to students who need to use toilets more frequently.
Despite the rage felt by adults and children alike, it is legal in the UK for schools to stop their pupils taking bathroom breaks.
‘MANY CONCERNS’
The Isle of Man government minister for Douglas South said she had “many concerns” about the new policy.
Claire Christian said it could “single out female students” when they need to visit the bathroom for “menstrual health”.
She added this could “cause undue stress or embarrassment” and described the move as “putting a very small plaster on a much bigger problem”.
The headteacher’s recent arrival at the school marked significant changes in its administration which are increasingly seen as Draconian by both students and staff alike
Parent petition
On her Facebook page she wrote: “Restricting students access to the toilet during lessons can indeed create various issues, including potential bottlenecks during break and lunch times, which could lead to overcrowding and students rushing to use the facilities within limited time periods.
“In terms of addressing the underlying issues such as vaping and other misuse of the facilities, it’s important for schools to find a balance between maintaining discipline and ensuring that students’ BASIC needs are met.
“Some schools have implemented strategies like increased supervision, education on the dangers of vaping, and creating a supportive environment where students feel comfortable discussing their needs with teachers or staff.”
CALL FOR CHANGE
A petition, signed by dozens, has been launched to change the policy.
It was launched by “a concerned individual who deeply believes in human rights” and wants pupils to “have access to adequate toilet facilities whenever they are needed”.
“Recently, the headteacher at Ballakermeen High School in Douglas, Isle of Man has made a decision that infringes on this basic right,” they wrote.
Head teacher’s letter explained
MR Corrin explained in his letter there are “several reasons
He wrote: “Vaping – some students gather in cubicles to vape. As it is not possible to identify which particular student was vaping, we consider all to have made the negative choice to be involved.
“Safeguarding –there is a potential risk posed by more than one student being confined in a single cubicle.
“Respect for others – if students gather in a cubicle, then it means that the facility is not available for others to use correctly.
“Damage – our experience is that damage, intentional or otherwise, occurs when single cubicles are over-occupied.
“Concealment – there is a potential risk to the health and safety of students if they conceal themselves within a single occupancy cubicle.
“Ultimately, there can be no positive reason for multiple students to occupy a single cubicle.
“Therefore, as a school, we have decided that it is not acceptable and such a decision will lead to a suspension which we do not want as again this leads to lost learning time.”
“The decision was made following issues with a minority of pupils mis-using the school toilet facilities for vaping, gathering in groups, vandalising and intimidating other pupils.
“In response to these incidents, access to toilets has been restricted during lesson time and some toilets have been locked entirely.”
They said while they understand measures need to be enforced against vaping and vandalism, “punishing all students” was “not justifiable of fair”.
“It also puts unnecessary strain on staff members who now have additional responsibilities related to managing this policy,” they added.
“The headteacher’s recent arrival at the school marked significant changes in its administration which are increasingly seen as Draconian by both students and staff alike.”
The petition claimed these “Draconian” policies have resulted in “a loss of respect”.
It urged Ballakermeen High School to reverse the decision and stop “infringing upon every student’s basic human rights”.
‘LEARNING TIME COUNTS’
Head teacher Mr Corrin hit back at the petition and laid out his aims to increase lesson attendance and safeguard pupil against vaping.
He added “There will of course be times and situations where students need to leave lessons, and teachers are able to show understanding and use their professional judgment and discretion.
“On Tuesday for example, 163 students were permitted to leave lessons for a number of reasons.”
It was also stated pupil attendance was “significantly below” their target.
The school said there would be increased supervision around bathroom areas by teachers.
CCTV in communal hand washing areas will also be installed.
New bathroom rules also state no more than one student can be in a cubicle at a time due to several concerns, including vaping.
It comes as multiple schools across the UK have seen pupils rushed to hospital after smoking the nicotine fuelled substance.
A 13-year-old boy was reportedly found unconscious after vaping in the toilets at school.
Plus, three Year 11s were taken to hospital after smoking a cannabis pen in the bathroom.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
In one case, eight children from a single school were hospitalised after using e-cigarettes, according to an MP.
The Sun Online contacted Ballakermeen High School for comment.