Headteacher slams parents who compared his school to a ‘prisoner of war camp’ after it was struck by ‘TikTok’ riots during day of chaos and warns them ‘your child may not always represent the full story’
- Chris Stokes, headteacher of Farnley Academy, Leeds, hit back at angry parents
- It comes after furious pupils demonstrated outside the school on Friday morning
- READ MORE: TikTok protests cause chaos at schools nationwide
- Was your child involved? Email [email protected]
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A headteacher has slammed parents for claiming his school was a ‘prisoner of war camp’ for locking toilets during lesson time.
Chris Stokes, headteacher of Farnley Academy, Leeds, warned that children ‘may not always represent the full story’ and the toilets were closed because of ‘serious’ safeguarding events.
It comes after the secondary school was rocked by ‘TikTok’ riots over the new rules, which saw furious pupils demonstrating outside the school gates on Friday.
Parents also joined in and compared the school to a ‘prisoner of war camp’, claiming it was taking away their children’s human rights.
Chris Stokes, headteacher of Farnley Academy, Leeds, warned that children ‘may not always represent the full story’ and the toilets were closed because of ‘serious’ safeguarding events. Pictured: Farnley Academy
Pupils at the Farnley Academy, Leeds, were seen standing outside the school this morning and ‘disgusted’ parents claimed the policy had ‘taken away their human rights’
But Mr Stokes said it was ‘clearly not the case’ that all bathrooms were locked and at least ‘one block of boys’ and ‘one block of girls’ toilets are always open at the school.
Many parents had backed up their kids’ decision to demonstrate, telling ‘stressed teachers’ that they ‘fully support’ their children in taking direct action.
In an email to parents, Mr Stokes said: ‘I need to be completely clear that it is absolutely not the case that all toilets are locked during lesson time. At all times, at least one block of boys and one block of girls’ toilets are open.
‘Our decision to not have all toilets open during lesson time was taken following two very serious safeguarding events.
‘It was not a decision that we took lightly, but it was a necessary decision to keep all students safe.’
Speaking about the protests, he went on: ‘The overwhelming majority complied with this request, and we thanked them for doing so.
‘Sadly, however, a very small minority of students did not comply with this request, nor did they wish to talk about their views at that time.’
‘Remember that what is presented to you by your child may not always represent the full story.’
Furious parents took to social media yesterday, with one writing: ‘Why are our children been treated like they are in a prisoner of war camp.
‘This is not how our children should be treated if they need toilet let then go it’s not a crime and to limit them with toilet roll is totally unacceptable in all the ways.’
Another said: ‘Be warned if you want your kids to go to Farnley Academy, then make sure the kids do not speak, breathe and have no bladder or any health issue as the school do not care about the kids and happy for the kids to be ill and mentally ill.’
Parent Natalie Hennessy, who has a son in Year 9, told Leeds Live: ‘My son, who is a high achiever, is so fed up of the way he’s being treated.
‘He says he feels manipulated all the time and the school is like a prison. I feel disgusted.
‘The amount of times I’ve contacted the school and it’s falling on deaf ears. They’re taking away their human rights.’
Several other schools in Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Essex were also rocked by the TikTok influenced trend encouraging children to protest against school rules.
At Penrice Academy, Cornwall, students reportedly ‘flipped tables’ and broke fences over rule changes which forced girls to show a ‘red card’ when they are on their period.
At Haven High Academy, Lincolnshire, one parent compared its new policy which locked toilets and corridors during lessons to ‘prison rules’.
