Angry parents claim the toilet ban is forcing children to choose between having lunch or going to the toilet

Students at Lightcliffe Academy in Halifax are only allowed to use the restroom during breaks, when they have to choose between having lunch or going to the bathroom, parents say

Parents have started a petition claiming a school’s “toilet ban” is forcing children to choose between going to the toilet or having lunch.

Lightcliffe Academy has sparked a furious backlash after banning daytime use of the toilet, resulting in huge queues during breaks.

This has led to a spate of complaints, and a petition is now urging bosses to reverse the policy.

The school in Halifax, West Yorks, has made the decision to limit student access to toilets and to enforce a toilet schedule for lunch, breaks and before or after school.

It states that students are encouraged to use the restroom outside of class time to avoid disrupting class.

But parents have slammed the move, branding it “oppressive”.

Joanne Harney, whose teenage daughter attends the school, said: “It’s absolutely depressing. They almost have to choose between going to the bathroom and eating.”

Students can obtain “toilet passes” that allow students to use the disabled toilet if they have an urgent or urgent need.

But these only allow them to use a disabled toilet in the school’s reception area, which is very busy.

Around 100 people have signed a petition asking the school to reverse their decision.

Nicola Hanson, who has two children at the school and started the petition, said: “I think it’s wrong on so many levels. It’s really terrible.

“It’s totally counterproductive, negatively impacts healthy habits — including drinking lots of water, which improves focus — and increases UTIs and other gut and bladder problems.”

Nicola said girls can’t always predict when they’ll need to go to the bathroom when they’re on their period.

And she said explaining to a male teacher why they need a toilet pass could be embarrassing.

She added: “It means those who really need the loo will be absent from class longer as they ask permission and have to queue at the now very busy single disabled toilet.

“Making them walk past locked toilets to access a disabled toilet and standing in a longer queue than necessary is my main criticism.”

Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “My daughter goes to the bathroom before school at 7.30am and then only at 3.45pm.

“At lunchtime she either has to queue for the toilet or go out to eat. She can’t do both.”

Headmistress Roz Wood-Ives said: “As with many other secondary schools, our policy is that students are encouraged to go to the toilet outside of class time to avoid any disruption in class, unless they have to for medical or health reasons Reasons reasons, or it is an emergency.

“Students who need to use toilet facilities in an emergency have access to these in the main foyer during class times.

“Because of the positive relationships that exist between staff and students, staff use their discretion to ensure those who genuinely need access to restroom facilities are comfortable asking permission to do so.

“We have recently invested £10,000 in improving our toilet facilities and have had positive feedback from students on the improvements.

“However, we recognize that some students and parents are unhappy with these arrangements and are actively working with our parent and student councils to see how we can address their concerns.”