As many a teacher will confirm, it’s a tough job getting youngsters to concentrate in school.
With, it seems, one exception – when they are all much too focused on gazing into the mirrors in the toilets.
Now one headteacher has had enough – and had the mirrors removed.
Wey Valley Academy in Weymouth, Dorset, took the drastic action after the ‘congestion’ made the space less comfortable for other children.
In an email, headteacher Steven Dyer told parents: ‘We noticed that the mirrors were contributing to congestion and behaviour issues in the toilets, particularly during busy periods.
‘Students were often gathering around the mirrors, which led to delays, overcrowding, and, in some cases, behaviour that made the space less comfortable for others. Removing the mirrors is intended to enable us to keep the toilets calmer, safer, and more focused on their intended use.
‘Our priority is always to maintain a safe and positive environment for all, and this change has already made a noticeable improvement. We will continue to review the arrangement and take student feedback into consideration.’
But some parents have accused the school of being ‘out of date’. One mother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘As a mother of two young girls in the school, I am outraged.
‘One of my daughter’s friends had to remove a piercing and replace it with a clear stud – without a mirror to do this safely.
‘Both boys and girls have so many insecurities and I feel this will just add to ever-growing pressures.
‘When asking my children about this, they both replied that the mirrors “have nothing at all to do with the ongoing issues”.
‘I want my children to be confident and comfortable in their place of learning but this to me seems extremely out of date.’
Another parent said mirrors were not just for checking make-up and hair, adding that pupils may have eye issues or other health-related concerns that need looking at.
The school was contacted for comment.
Read more
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- Are British schools failing? Meet the parents taking drastic steps, claiming classrooms are outdated for their young learners.
