RHYL High School has faced criticism after installing shutters on its toilets, which are down while pupils are in classes.

The school’s acting headteacher, Ceri Ellis, said the move comes from pupil feedback, and has made a “much nicer toilet environment”.

Those with medical conditions can obtain a “toilet pass” to allow them to use a toilet during lessons.

But a parent of a student at the school contacted both the Journal and Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West and shadow minister for North Wales, to air his grievances.

He said it is his understanding that the shutters have been installed to “stop people vaping in the toilets”.

The parent added: “Rhyl High have installed shutters on all of the loos within the school, and lock them for 90 per cent of the day.

“Loos are only open at the start and end of the day, and during break time. Children are being forced to wait two hours to go to the loo; a basic human need.

“The school requires a pupil to have health issues to provide them with a ‘toilet pass’, which I think is unacceptable. They are young adults and should not have to deal with things like this.

“These shutters were put in place at the start of the new academic year. My stepdaughter asked to go the toilet, and when she was told ‘no’, she was in tears in her class.

“The only realisation we had of it was when she came home and told us. I couldn’t believe it; it’s ridiculous.

“She doesn’t need a toilet pass, she just needs the doors opening.”

Mr Millar, who has constituents who attend the school, labelled the move “draconian”, and urged Rhyl High to reverse it.

He added that learning of the new arrangements at school, after being contacted by a constituent, “shocked” him.

“Preventing people from going to the loo when they need to can give rise to health issues,” Mr Millar said.

“(It) shows a complete lack of lack of consideration to the needs of girls who may need access due to the sudden onset of their period.

“It almost certainly discriminates against those with health conditions, treating them differently to other pupils and forcing them to disclose medical information they would rather keep private.

“While I appreciate that managing access to toilets may be important to address unacceptable behaviour and truancy, the approach that appears to have been adopted by Rhyl High is draconian, unnecessary, and totally at odds with Welsh Government guidance.

“I urge them to reverse this policy as soon as possible.”

In response, the school’s acting headteacher, Ms Ellis, said: “All school toilets are open at the start of the school day, between every lesson, at break, at lunch, and at the end of the school day.

“Accessible toilets in every area are open at all times.

“The revised arrangements have been in response to pupil feedback.

“The arrangements are securing a much nicer toilet environment for pupils, as staff are able to monitor the use and make sure that the facilities are kept to a good standard, and also prevent some of the issues that some pupils were facing when using the toilets, which caused concern to many pupils.

“It has also supported an even greater focus on pupil wellbeing, and creating and maintaining a positive and orderly environment.

“Our ethos as a school is one where pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do, and every decision we make and we have created a culture where pupil voice is pivotal.”