A mum has slammed a school for "neglect" after her son was forced to take a poo behind a bush outside because of a strict policy.
The boy, 12, was suffering from diarrhoea but a school policy enforcing a lockdown on all toilets while classes are in session meant he was left with little choice but to find somewhere to relieve himself.
The lad was even refused the key by the school receptionist despite being allowed out by a teacher to go to the loo.
It was only a five minute walk from his classroom but he was caught short as he returned to class and had to squat behind a bush near a school block.
The school in question, Treorchy Comprehensive in Wales, told Wales Online that toilets are locked during lessons but they will be evaluating their policies in light of the complaint.
The lad's mum said: “He had diarrhoea and didn’t want it to run down his leg so he just had to find a quiet area outside."
“It breaks my heart to think someone could have seen him. As far as I’m concerned it’s neglect by the school.”
The mum said her son told her what happened later that evening.
“He wasn’t ill when he went to school but had a belly ache after lunch and said it was quite acute," she added. "He just told me he had to have a poo outside.
“This is a health and safety issue. He could not wipe or wash his hands.
“We are very happy with the school and his reports are good but I am very shocked to hear about this toilet policy.
“I feel it’s very neglectful to not have free use of the toilets. They can’t just shut off the toilets like this.
“My son is now worried about not being able to go to the toilet in school when he needs to. He is also worried because he feels he did something wrong.”
On its website the school for 11 to 18 year-olds says it occupies 13 separate buildings on a long, narrow site, which does not include green playing fields.
The boy's parents, who don’t want their son identified or to be named themselves in case that identifies him, said they went to complain to the deputy head teacher the day after the incident.
They said they were told pupils have to get a key to avoid trouble making in the toilets and kids skipping class pretending they need to go.
“He told us our son is so polite and quiet. He’s never been in trouble with the school and he enjoys school,” said his mother.
“He had permission to get the key from reception from his teacher so we don’t know why he wasn’t allowed the key.
“We’ve never had a problem with the school until now but I never knew they locked the toilets during lesson time.
“The deputy head said their policy is not to refuse the key because they know the kids who are going to try to bunk off a lesson and in this instance he didn’t know what happened so he was going to speak to the receptionist."
A spokeswoman for the 1,644-pupil school said toilet policy would be reviewed “in light of the concern raised” by the boy’s parents.
She added: “There are nine sets of toilets located across the school site and most of these are locked during lesson times to ensure all pupils have access to the highest standards of toilet facilities when they wish to use them, upon request.
“The school has procedures in place which enables pupils to use toilet facilities during lesson times. These have proven to be effective over many years.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on any individual cases but no child or young person who requires the use of a toilet is denied access. The school routinely reviews all school policies and, in light of the concern raised, an evaluation of existing procedures and policies will be undertaken.”
