Anger over changes made to girls' toilets at Wordsley School

On returning from the summer school holiday, pupils at the school in Brierley Hill Road discovered the female facilities have been renovated with the front wall removed to create a much wider and more visible entranceway – overlooked by the corridor.

A parent has told of her shock at the changes – blasting the lack of privacy available for schoolgirls.

She told the News: “The female toilets are not fit for use. The school have removed the wall so the young ladies have no privacy coming in or out of the bathroom, anyone can look in them walk in.

The recently renovated girls' toilets at The Wordsley School (Image: Handout)

“The changes have been made during the school holidays, parents haven’t been made aware of this and the only email from the school was to say extra CCTV had been installed and vaping alarms placed in the toilets.

“The boys toilets are not opened like the girls and the two other toilet blocks for the girls are kept locked, meaning these are the only ones available to the young ladies.”

The school has defended the changes saying the work has created a more modern facility – which many pupils have welcomed.

Ashley Weatherhogg, headteacher at The Wordsley School, said: “Over the summer break we took the opportunity to refurbish another set of our toilets in line with our policy to make our toilets as modern, accessible and user friendly as possible.

“The new toilet cubicles have floor to ceiling walls, doors and dividers in common with many schools across the country, as it allows students total privacy.

The entrance from the corridor to the recently renovated girls' toilets at The Wordsley School (Image: Handout)

“We have opened up access to the facilities and handwashing area to encourage our young people to use the facilities as quickly and efficiently as possible so they can return to class and resume their learning sooner.

“It also reduces the likelihood of anti-social behaviour by a minority of pupils and ensures that students of all ages feel confident using the facilities.

“Many of our pupils have told us they prefer the new design.

"All of our staff always look out for the wellbeing of all our students, and if needed we will place female members of staff on duty outside the toilets.

“While we do have CCTV in the school, the cameras near the toilets are pointed away from them and focus on the access corridor only.”