Chantry Academy toilet policy sparks parent backlash

The rules at Chantry Academy have been described by parents as “chaos,” with some claiming children were unable to use the toilet, even in cases of medical need.

One mum said: "The toilet issues have been really bad, I have a friend who’s daughter had her time of the month and wasn’t allowed to go to the toilets.

"This is crazy to me it’s all happening in the first week of school. These rules are overpowering the learning.

"School should be a safe place but it’s not and it’s affecting their mental health. It’s just chaos."

An Ipswich secondary school has introduced new policies (Image: Contributed)

Another parent said there has been a lack of communication about the new rules.

The parent said: "The school brought out some new rules and regulations in August.

"They said everything had to be complied with by November which made me think there’d be some wiggle room in the first couple of weeks of term.

"They’ve come down on the kids like a ton of bricks with no communication with the parents.

"My daughter has a medical toilet pass but she went and they were locked and she still couldn’t get access to them, and she could only use the PE and east block but she didn’t know that at the time."

A spokesperson for the Active Learning Trust, which runs the school, said: "Chantry Academy has recently renovated one of its toilet blocks to provide a safer and more suitable environment for pupils.

"This block and other toilet facilities are accessible to pupils during the school day.

Chantry Academy has been slammed by parents (Image: Google Maps)

"Staff encourage pupils to use the toilets before school, during break and lunchtime, as well as after school, to minimise disruption to their learning.

"We take the welfare and individual needs of all our pupils extremely seriously and have appropriate arrangements in place to support them with toilet access as required. We would always encourage parents to contact the academy directly with any concerns."