A high school has defended its decision to install surveillance cameras in its toilets after alleged vandalism.
The cameras were installed in the washrooms of two men’s toilets in the sixth form block at Southend High School for Girls in Essex.
The state-funded selective high school has about 60 boys in grades 12 and 13, but none in the lower years.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that students are not only safe, but feel safe,” said Principal Jason Carey.
“We have exceptionally well-behaved students, but we are not complacent and want to do whatever we can to support our students, and this is just one potential way forward.”
As first reported by the Southend Echo, the school said the cameras were not yet connected and operational and would only be switched on if incidents continue.
Mr Carey said there had been “repeated” vandalism and he would be giving the sixth grade boys a gathering on the matter on Thursday.
He said the school has built five-minute breaks between classes into its schedule to allow for bathroom breaks.
The headmaster added that the school management talks to the students in general about their toilet break policy and how their toilets should be designed in the future.
Parents of children at Mayflower High School in Billericay have previously complained about toilets being locked during class hours, and earlier this year there were coordinated protests at other UK schools against the toilet policy.
Former Children’s Commissioner for England Maggie Atkinson told BBC Essex: ‘If you are an adult in power in these situations, how do you use your power? To make your school a civilized society instead of a place guarded by video surveillance?
“None of this feels right.”
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