School calls in police and places pupils in lockdown amid fears of ‘further disturbances’ after parents held protests over installation of metal bars on toilet doors to encourage them to go at ‘regular times’
- The metal bars were installed at the Discovery Academy, Bentilee, Staffordshire
- Parents indignant with rage have claimed the toilets are locked during lessons
A high school at the centre of a parents’ revolt called in police amid fears of ‘further disturbances’.
The Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Staffordshire, placed its pupils in lockdown throughout breaktime and lunchtime on Monday after a protest outside the school gates.
It came after parents held protests over the installation of metal bars on toilet doors to encourage them to go at ‘regular times’.
The school went into another lockdown on Tuesday after a member of the public reported seeing a man with a gun in Beverly Drive.
On Monday, dozens of furious parents marched on a school they branded a ‘prison’ after it installed metal bars over toilet doors.
Protesters gathered to demonstrate against bars being put on toilets atThe Discovery Academy, in Bentilee, Staffordshire
Dozens of children walked out of school last week following the implementing of the ‘humiliating’ toilet barriers
More than 50 parents joined protest on Monday morning. The school said eggs were thrown
Protesters – which included children – began massing at about 9am on Monday, waving placards saying ‘no bars on toilets’, ‘basic human rights’ and ‘it’s not a jail’.
About 50 people rallied at Bentilee’s Discovery Academy, in Staffordshire, as a row over the school’s controversial toilet policies deepened today.
Dozens of children had ‘walked out’ of lessons in protest over the ‘humiliating’ new metal barriers, which are allegedly locked during lessons.
Police kept a watchful eye on the protesters on Monday morning and were later called to the school
Children joined those demonstrating outside the school, which is run by Alpha Academies Trust
Simon French, chief executive of Alpha Academies Trust, spoke to protesters during the demonstration. Pictured: The demonstration in full swing
READ MORE: ‘It’s not a prison!’ Dozens of angry parents protest outside school after it installed metal bars over toilet doors and lock them during lessons to encourage pupils to go at ‘regular set times’
‘On Friday he asked the teacher twice to use the toilet and they refused to let him go,’ she said.
The barred gates are reportedly unlocked during break and lunch periods and were fitted to encourage pupils to go to the toilet ‘at regular times’.
Parents have been left indignant with rage and blasted the school, claiming their children are being treated like inmates, with one father, Rob Cooper, 39, saying: ‘Toilets are a human right. It’s a school for children not a prison.’
The chief executive of the trust that runs the academy came out to speak to the crowd, as police officers monitored demonstrators.
Among those there included Tracey Barnett. The 43-year-old, of Bentilee, has a 12-year-old son at the school and lashed out over its Draconian toilet rules.
Others raised concerns about bullying during the protests, after footage emerged of a girl allegedly being attacked in the academy’s canteen.
Parents are calling on the school to get greater control of the situation.
The school said: ‘Given the disruption at the school gate we decided to keep the students in the building at breaktime and lunchtime to avoid unsettling them further.
‘We will be closing at 3pm and have requested police support in case there are further disturbances. Your child’s safety is our priority.
‘We requested police support but due to the delay in their arrival and reports of further disturbances on social media we followed procedures to safeguard our students and staff.
‘A small minority who attached themselves to the protest continued to cause disturbances throughout the day around the premises, including the throwing of eggs during the protest.’
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