Following revelations that Armidale Secondary College is denying children access to the toilet for half the school day, parents and students from four other high schools in the region have come forward about dehumanising and humiliating practices around toilet access, but the NSW Government is refusing to answer questions.
Shocking reports of locked toilets, complicated processes for passes, needing to explain in front of the class why you need to use the bathroom, being denied permission to go to the bathroom, being yelled at and having teachers bang on the toilet door, and far too many stories of children soiling their pants, leaving school grounds, or not going to school at all, have come out in recent weeks.
“Gunnedah High School has been doing it for years as well. Students have to – if the teacher lets them – walk to the library (passing the toilets), sign the key out or wait for it to come back if it is already being used, and then the reverse. Leading to spending two to three times longer out of class.”
This concerned adult also said the school locks the toilets during break times before the bell goes.
“They are told they should have gone earlier. They lock them and turn the students away.”
A senior student at Peel High School said the toilets there are always locked, including often remaining locked at break times, and that it’s been getting worse.
“We do have some nicer teachers who let us unlock them… but the rest of the teachers walk around and relock them again.”
One mum, who is planning to move back to Tamworth later this year, said she was informed by a senior executive of the Oxley High School of the toilet locking policy while doing a walk around last month.
“We were advised that toilets are always locked and a student must present to a window in the quad to get a key to use the toilets,” she said.
The male staff member’s comments were particularly unsavoury towards female students, allegedly saying “females are the worst, the things they do are shocking”.
“I am now filled with concern about what school to send my children to.”
“Both my children aged 15 and 13 were really negatively affected by the general operations but concern for my female child attempting to get to the bathroom whilst on her period was just too distressing.”
This issues at Oxley High appear to go beyond locking and denying access, with students and parents claiming the facilities are poorly maintained.
“Routinely they are denied toilet access during class if the teacher thinks they can hold until end of class or should have gone prior. Not only that they don’t refill the soap dispensers anymore due to student wastage and the office has said not their problem, it’s the cleaners,” said one parent.
“Half of the time there is only 2 out of 12 school toilets that have toilet paper. I am aware that this also comes down to how often the cleaners are replacing the paper but because all us students are restricted to just using one block of toilets it further increases the use of the toilets paper,” said a student.
“The school also promises us women sanitary products, which was often kept stocked at first, but is now always empty never any products are placed in the dispensers.”
Another student confirmed the lack of sanitary products and general respect or support for young women managing their period.
“Teachers sometimes won’t even let you go to the toilet when you have your period. It’s bad enough having to announce that to the class, but then being told no and knowing that likely means you’ll bleed through your uniform is just really ick. It shouldn’t happen.”
Other reports from Oxley included claims of mould and damage to classrooms and bathrooms, lack of cleaners, and a general disregard for student wellbeing. The 2024 Annual Report for Oxley High School also noted the need for upgrades to facilities, including specific mention of the toilets.
Similar reports of locked toilets came from students at Inverell, Tamworth, and Tamworth South high schools, with some believing it was a normal thing for students to be denied access to the toilet.
“It happens everywhere. We’ve always had the toilets locked because of all the kids vaping or whatever.”
But it does not happen everywhere, it is not a consistent practice or backed by policy, and the NSW Government is not answering questions on why it is allowed to happen at all. No response has been received to a number of questions put to the acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos and Premier Chris Minns.
The Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP), whose job it is to advocate for young people and ensure their safety and welfare are paramount in systems like the education system, also declined to comment. They did not answer questions about whether the Department of Education had consulted them on toilet access issues, nor would they confirm that the reported practices would be a violation on the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child.
The NSW Department of Education did eventually provide a response, although not an answer to the questions put to them.
In response to multiple questions about Armidale Secondary College, this was the statement provided:
“The school is managing student access to the toilets to while works are undertaken. Students are able to use toilet facilities if they need them.”
In response to multiple questions about Oxley High School, this single sentence was the statement provided:
“Students at Oxley High School are able to use toilet facilities if they need them.”
In response to questions about Gunnedah High School, whether there was a policy on toilet access, whether they had consulted with youth advocate or human rights bodies, and a number of questions to ministers about this practice, this was the response.
“Student welfare is one of our highest priorities, and that includes the right to use well maintained bathroom facilities,” said a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education.
“If toilets are vandalised or in need of other maintenance, the work is done promptly and can involve restricting access to some toilets during some parts of the day. This is done for the safety of all students.
“The frequency of this varies between schools, but students will always have reasonable access throughout the school day.
“This is current practice for schools.”
In the words of one student, the issues go beyond toilet access and dignity, it affects their education.
“If they want to improve student’s behaviour while at school maybe they should start by giving us a better environment to learn in.”
If you need help or are upset by this story, please seek support.
- 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- 13Yarn 13 92 76
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
Students and parents are not identified because of a history of retribution within schools for speaking out, and because of child protection legislation. Know more about this story? Contact us by emailing newsdesk@netimes.com.au