DISTRESSED pupils have hit out, claiming toilets are "almost permanently locked" in a number of North Ayrshire secondary schools.

But the claims have been denied by North Ayrshire Council.

Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn and St Matthew's Academy in Saltcoats have both been accused of having their toilets closed to pupils – causing students on their periods to miss school and taking away resources from disabled pupils.

A Greenwood pupil said: “Our toilets are almost permanently locked - this is quite distressing.

“I have had friends who have been on their periods and bled through clothing subsequently having to go home and miss out on schoolwork just because they cannot access a toilet.

“My pen burst while I was writing so I asked my teacher if I could go to the toilet to wash my hands.

"I went to eight different woman’s toilets all of which were locked - this is not an isolated incident either.

“I understand that Greenwood has had problems with vandalism like people setting fires in the toilets but that is not a justifiable reason to lock all the toilets.”

In a separate complaint made in November 2022, a St Matthew’s pupil said that only one toilet is regularly in use.

They said: “Every toilet in St Matthew's is locked except for one single unisex toilet and on occasion maybe one disabled toilet.

“There are over 1,000 people in this school and yet they won’t open the toilets.

“Disabled toilets are for people with disabilities and when we are being made to use their toilets we are essentially taking away their rights to a separate, accommodational bathroom.

“This isn’t fair on any students in this school.”

Responding to the claims, the council contradicted the allegations saying that toilets in both schools are generally open.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “At Greenwood Academy, all toilets are open before school and during interval and lunch breaks.

“During class time, a range of individual toilets remain open and fully accessible to pupils throughout the school and additional toilets can be accessed, if necessary, through requesting a key.

“At St Matthew’s Academy, all toilets are generally open at all times.

“Unfortunately, there are rare occasions when, due to concerns regarding antisocial behaviour and vandalism, we have been required to close the central toilets during class time for limited periods (and then open during interval and lunch) but all other toilets remain accessible.

“All schools are committed to reviewing their arrangements on a regular basis and will respond to individual feedback on this matter.

“As always, we would encourage parents, carers or young people to discuss any issues they have encountered with school staff.”