A West Midlands school clarifies the situation after a photo of locked toilets sparked online outrage among parents and the community.
Solihull: A secondary school in the West Midlands is setting the record straight. Recently, a photo of locked toilets at Smith’s Wood Academy went viral on social media. Parents were upset, thinking the school was limiting toilet access for students.
The image showed locked gates in front of the toilets, and some claimed all mirrors were removed. In response, Principal Steve Huntington spoke to BirminghamLive to explain the situation. He reassured everyone about student hygiene and access to facilities.
Interestingly, this school has made quite a turnaround. After a tough Ofsted report in 2023, it’s now one of the most improved schools in England. That’s a big deal!
Mr. Huntington clarified that the locked toilets are not in areas where classes are held. He mentioned there are plenty of open-access toilets throughout the school. No student is denied access to the restroom.
He explained, “There are eight sets of open-access toilets across the two buildings. Plus, we have 11 locked disabled toilets. Staff are always on duty with keys if needed.”
Regarding the locked toilets, he said, “These are on the top floor, where there are no classes scheduled. If that area becomes a teaching zone, we’ll open those toilets at specific times.”
He also noted that while students can use the toilets, they should ideally do so during breaks, unless there’s a medical reason. For those with medical issues, the school provides toilet passes for use during lessons.
