Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, Wales, has introduced chaperones to accompany pupils to the toilet during two specific lessons each day. The move follows claims that students were spending excessive time in the facilities, resulting in missed learning, and that the toilets had suffered significant damage.
New arrangements for two daily lessons
The new policy applies only during the lesson immediately after break and the one following lunch. Pupils who request to use the toilet during these periods will have a member of the school's pastoral team called to accompany them. Staff will not enter the toilets with the youngsters, but the arrangement has worried some parents, who fear children could be left waiting for someone to become available.
The school confirmed that pupils are not banned from using the toilet. Instead, they are encouraged to go during break and lunchtime before returning to class, while teachers can continue to use their professional judgement outside the two affected lessons. Those with documented medical needs are exempt and can leave class whenever necessary using their existing pass.
Parent concerns and school response
One parent expressed concerns with the policy, saying: “By the time they request and get a chaperone, the child could have had an accident. I don’t want anyone chaperoning my child to the toilet.”
The changes were revealed to families in a letter sent on October 4, with the school saying it hoped the measures would “significantly reduce lost learning time”. The letter also advised families to contact reception if they have safeguarding concerns and to arrange appointments in advance for other matters.
School defends the measures
Ebbw Fawr Learning Community is Wales’s first all-through maintained school, teaching children from the age of three through to 16. The new arrangements apply only to its secondary pupils.
A spokesperson for the school said: “After careful consideration we have introduced new arrangements in the secondary phase only. This is as a result of significant damage which has been caused to the toilet area and excessive time spent in the toilets, which results in students missing valuable learning time.
“We have four pastoral managers on site who manage the chaperoning of students to the toilet – they do not go into the toilet area.
“These arrangements are only in operation the lesson after break and the lesson after lunch, we encourage all learners to use the toilet before these lessons start. Any learner with documented medical issues has been issued with a pass and can leave the lesson whenever they need to use the toilet.”
