Dear Parent/Carer
Re: Toilet access
I am writing in response to the misinformation and factually incorrect information being circulated on social media and other platforms regarding the toileting facilities.
Throughout module 1 and 2 we have reviewed many aspects of the academy day to ensure transitions and access to the building is safely managed. Part of the work has been to review the toilet access for all students.
We have made the following changes:
● We have changed the model where ‘sides’ of the building have breaks/lunch together. This is now arranged by year group which has balanced student numbers and ensured safe movement around the academy – this means ALL toilets on the ground floor are accessible throughout the day. Further toilet capacity is made available by duty staff on the first and second floors of the academy.
● Every year group has a designated set of toilet facilities during their break times – this ensures that students feel safe and feel more comfortable with their peers. This also allows more access during breaks. Prior to this – only the restaurant toilets were available historically. This has increased the number of toilets available during breaks for students.
● All toilets during breaks/lunch are covered by nearby staff ‘duty points’ to ensure student safety and well being.
● We have removed the requirement for children with medical passes to be ‘on called’. Students with medical needs now use the facilities as required – no student should be stopped. Historically children would need to wait for an adult to escort them.
● We have adjusted the length of lesson timings to give parity. Between each lesson there is 5 minute transition time. The ground floor toilets in Mandela/Curie and Seacole/Shakespeare are accessible at ALL times. Staff will move large groups of students who are in the toilets ‘waiting’ for friends or acting inappropriately to ensure they arrive at lessons on time and allow those who need the toilet to access freely.
● We have NOT and will not ever charge students for using the toilets. The factually incorrect information regarding students being charged £5 to use facilities is simply untrue and false.
All of the changes were shared with your child in college briefings on the first back in January. All of the changes enhance your child’s access to the toilets throughout the day.
As an academy we will actively encourage all students to use the toilet facilities in their breaks, lunches and transitions and will try to discourage regularly missing lessons for toileting. The maximum lesson length of time now is 60 minutes where a student is based in a class without immediate access to toilet facilities. However, if a student is in urgent need of using the facilities they of course will can. We do have to balance this with safeguarding our students and I ask that parents and carers recognise we do experience a very small minority of students who truant and act in ways that are beyond ‘just going to the toilet’ when adults are not readily available to ensure safety, hence our active encouragement for all students where possible to use breaks, lunches and transitions rather than important learning time.
I actively encourage any parent/carer who has serious issues with any aspect of their child’s education to make direct contact with the senior leadership at the academy via their college office or main reception. The use of social media often distorts the truth and opens up many opportunities for disinformation and ‘hear say’ – much of which is factually incorrect.
May I also use this as an opportunity to highlight the Leigh Academies Trust Parent code of conduct available to the website which includes details on parents’ use of social media with regards to the academy and the wider Trust.
Our drive for exceptionally high expectations and standards has resulted in better behaviour in lessons and around the academy ensuring your child receives high quality teaching and learning opportunities. We appreciate your ongoing support.
Your faithfully,
Recebba Roberts
Principal
