Outwood Academy: Pupil, 11, wets himself in class after toilet pass refusal at Sheffield school

It is reported that the 11-year-old had asked to go to the toilet during a lesson, but was told by his teacher at Outwood Academy City, in Stradbroke, that he couldn’t, as he did not have a ‘toilet pass’.

His parents, who we are not naming to protect the identity of the child, said they were only made aware of the accident when their child came home from school and they found his wet trousers.

The dad said: “He just broke down in tears. He couldn’t even tell us what he’d done because I think he was that ashamed.

“It was just hurting me as a dad, just thinking what must have been going through his head at the time, and the pain he must’ve been in.”

His son, who receives support from the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), told him how after he was denied access to the toilet, a girl sitting beside him was given permission to visit the bathroom. However the school has stated there is no evidence of this happening.

While he was sitting alone, he wet himself, and remained in his wet trousers for the rest of his final lesson of the day. He then had to wring his trousers out in the toilet so he could go home - but was then told he had to stay after school for an hour’s detention.

The dad continued: “Luckily his trousers are black. If his trousers were grey, he wouldn't have been able to stand up, everybody would’ve known.

“He would have been destroyed on social media, and the school don't seem to be bothered by that. That's what's most made me more angry regarding the situation, they've tried just pushing it under the carpet, as though it's not a big thing that a pupil’s actually soiled themself in class.”

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The parents are currently waiting for a space to open up at another school, and in the meantime have arranged a doctor’s appointment to address their child’s weak bladder.

Outwood Academy City does not allow children to go to the toilet in lessons to limit them from missing learning.

However, the dad claimed pupils do not have enough time to go in the breaks between lessons, and that if a child is late for class, they get detention.

He added: “Surely it should be if a student’s that desperate they should be allowed to go.”

A spokesperson for Outwood Academy City has said student welfare is “always our top priority,” and the school has been in contact with the family to issue the year 7 pupil a toilet pass.

They said: “Each lesson is only one hour and there are opportunities to go to the toilet during the breaks between lessons.

“However, we also know that the transition to secondary school can be challenging and sometimes children find new rules difficult.

“On this occasion the child did have a pass that would have allowed them to leave the room and access one of our support spaces [The Bridge], but they did not show it to the teacher.

“Unfortunately, the student did not inform a member of staff of their accident, as we would have ensured support and clean clothes.”