More ‘TikTok protests’ rock schools: Hundreds of pupils scale gates and trash classrooms in riots in Hampshire, Essex and Lancashire over schools rules and new unisex toilets

• Pupils at schools in Hampshire, Essex and Lancashire have taken part in protests
• They appear to be arranged over popular social media platforms such as TikTok 

TikTok protests are continuing to rock Britain’s schools as hundreds of pupils rebelled against their teachers over school rules, including new unisex toilets.

The social media trend appears to be spreading, with students at schools in Southampton, Blackpool and Essex staging demos which they posted on the platform.

Last week, protests took place at schools in Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Essex with videos of children taking a stand against uniform and toilet policies circulating online.

Protests appear to be arranged over popular social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat, with some videos attracting millions of views.

MailOnline found videos with comments from pupils at other schools, asking how they could emulate the protest at theirs, amid fears the trend is sweeping the nation.

A schoolgirl was seen climbing over a school fence at a TikTok protest at Shenfield High School in Brentwood, Essex

Footage shows a TikTok protest at Shenfield high School in Brentwood, Essex

Footage uploaded to TikTok of a protest at Shenfield High School showed overturned chairs in what appeared to be a school hall

A general view of Shenfield High School in Brentwood, Essex

Footage of a protest at Shenfield High School in Essex showed exercise books on the floor being trampled on as a wave of children walk over them, and overturned chairs in what appeared to be a school hall.

READ MORE: TikTok protests cause chaos at schools nationwide as headteacher blames social media trend for clashes over ban on using toilets during class, skirt-measuring and girls told to show a red card when on their period as students slam ‘prison rules’

It is not known what sparked the protest and the school has been contacted for comment.

In Southampton, two hundred pupils staged protests at Weston Secondary School yesterday after being left ‘uncomfortable’ by new unisex toilets.

As they chanted ‘toilet rights’, the students pitched up at the lavatories to also take a stand against rules preventing them from leaving lessons to go to the loo.

The students reported worries about the same-gender toilets at the small academy school after their introduction in September.

One female pupil said ‘girl emergencies’ mean they should be allowed to use the toilet without having to wait ‘up to two hours’ for a break or lunchtime.

Meanwhile, a parent said their daughter felt so uneasy about sharing a toilet with boys that she has stopped going to the toilet during school hours.

Student Cloe, 14, said: ‘We don’t think it’s fair, girls in our school are not comfortable. People think it’s funny to unlock the doors while you’re in there.

‘We’re trying to tell the teacher that it’s just not fair. We’ve tried to talk to them before we did a protest but they’re just ignoring it.’

Another 14-year-old student added: ‘We have gone to the headteacher about it before and they just tell you what you want to hear and don’t do anything about it.

‘You’re also not allowed to leave lessons to go to the toilet which isn’t fair on girls who are menstruating.

‘If you have a girl emergency you should be allowed to go to the toilet when you need to.’

Cloe’s mum, Nicole Tipton, said: ‘My daughter doesn’t feel comfortable going to the toilet.

MailOnline found messages on TikTok which show pupils asking how they could replicate a protest at their school

 It is not known what sparked the protest and Shenfield High School has been contacted for comment

A TikTok protest at  Shenfield High School showed exercise books on the floor being trampled on as a wave of children walk over them

‘The boys have got this thing about putting their phone over the toilet or under the doors to try to get pictures of them.

‘I am not happy, I don’t like the fact my daughter is uncomfortable going to the toilet – she’s a child, she’s a minor.

‘She’s not going to the toilet all day while she’s at school.

READ MORE: Girls are left in tears after being ordered to stand in line as ‘male teachers inspected the length of their skirts to make sure they are not too short’

‘I have even contacted the school about it but they haven’t done anything.

‘Why did the school not tell us about it before and get people’s opinions before they put something in place?’

Meanwhile, a school in Blackpool denied claims of a riot after students launched a ‘mass rebellion’ over basic school rules.

Yesterday pupils ‘went on the rampage’ during their TikTok planned protest which teachers claim was sparked by the social media trend.

Stephen Cooke, headteacher of Unity Academy Blackpool, said he became aware of the trend last week, which has since built momentum over the weekend.

Following protests at other schools on Friday some children were keen to protest, he said.

Mr Cooke said: ‘Student voice is important to the academy and in order to ensure all students had an opportunity to share concerns, form time was extended this morning by 10 minutes in order to offer the opportunity for students to share these concerns, which colleagues committed to responding to later on this week.’

He said that many of these concerns relate to basic school rules that have been in place at the school for many years.

A significant number of students have spoken to staff in support of these basic expectations.

In Southampton, two hundred pupils staged protests at Weston Secondary School (pictured) yesterday after being left ‘uncomfortable’ by new unisex toilets. (General view) 

A video on TiKTok showed a protest at Unity Academy in Blackpool

Children were seen storming the corridors of the school in Blackpool, which headteacher Stephen Cooke said lasted for 15 minutes

A general view of Unity Academy in Blackpool

Mr Cooke continued: ‘Despite providing opportunities for this morning, a very small number of the school population (less than 5 per cent) chose to take part in a protest by not going to class after the lunch break.

‘The number of students reduced quickly and they were supervised by staff at all times. The ‘protest’ lasted for around 15 minutes before being brought to a calm conclusion by staff.’

The new trend prompted the Department for Education to release a statement, saying it was ‘concerned’ by the spate of school protests. 

A Department for Education spokesperson said: ‘We are concerned at the reports of disruption and will be in touch with all schools and local authorities to ensure they are supported at this time.

‘We will always back headteachers to take the action required to maintain calm and supportive classroom environments as they are best placed to work with their teachers, parents, pupils and local communities when developing and implementing policies.’

MailOnline has contacted Shenfield High School, Weston Secondary School and Unity Academy for comment.

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