Pupils at Kings Park Secondary in Glasgow call for right to go to toilet during classes

Glasgow high school pupils have called for the right to go to the toilet when they need to during lessons.

Senior pupils voiced the opinion at a meeting in the Glasgow City Council chambers, which saw representatives from every secondary school attend.

The young people said: “We should be able to go to the toilet whenever we need it.”

The view on loo access was one of about 30 opinions they gave during a ‘senior phase parliament’ including a need for prayer rooms in every school and food quality to improve.

It isn’t the first time the issue about toilet use has been raised in the city.

Students at Kings Park Secondary in the city claimed they were not allow to go to the toilet during class time and set up a petition demanding more access about a year ago.

When asked about the loo rules in schools, a Glasgow council spokeswoman said: “Schools will have policies in place that meet the needs of the school community and school staff will develop these policies in consultation with their pupil council.”

The children’s bowel and bladder charity Eric said banning toilet breaks during lessons can “aggravate or even create continence problems.”

Details of the pupil parliament was presented to the council’s education, skills and early years city policy committee last week in a report on developments to support pupil voice in the city.

The paper said: “The overwhelming majority of young people identified health and well-being and equalities and diversity as the main issues for them to focus on this session.”

Young people were consulted on a range of matters that they considered important. The parliament is one of a number of initiatives running to make sure the voices of young people in Glasgow schools are heard and children’s rights are central to work taking place.

Issues raised during the senior phase parliament include: