Ref. 20307-15 Dr Scott SissonsSOME pupils at Dorcan Technical College are so scared of using the school toilets that they return home desperate to spend a penny, worried parents claim.

The school, in St Paul's Drive, Dorcan, had problems with bullying in the school toilets last year and it seems the problems could be returning.

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: "My son is petrified of going to the toilet at school. He doesn't go all day and then rushes upstairs to the bathroom as soon as he gets home.

"He says bullying is rife in the toilets, even though there are teachers on duty outside."

Two other parents who also wished to remain anonymous have called the Evening Advertiser to report similar problems.

Headteacher Dr Scott Sissons said: "We have changed the regime when it comes to the toilets. Last year, it was a real problem and we addressed it fully.

"We are not aware of a problem at the moment. As far as I am aware it is under control.

"I meet with representatives from across the year groups at school council meetings and I do not think we currently have a problem with toilets.

"I admit we did have problems but we worked hard to resolve those issues. The situation with the toilets is now very clear and pupils know the rules."

Each year group is now allocated one set of toilets and cannot use any others. This move was introduced to stop older children bullying younger pupils.

They were previously given door codes unique to each year group's toilet to prevent year groups mixing.

But this system failed when pupils from different years started to swap door codes and abuse the system.

Each break and lunch time 24 members of staff are on duty and the school says the toilets are directly supervised.

During lesson times the toilets remain locked and can only be used by pupils with special medical conditions.

Last summer, students redecorated the toilets after ongoing abuse and damage to give them a sense of ownership.

Dr Sissons urged pupils to notify school council reps if they had a problem. He said: "If people tell us about these issues we can act on them."

The school has 1,310 pupils and last year installed equipment such as CCTV cameras, a perimeter fence and an electronic registration system.

Since September 2003, students have not been able to leave the grounds until the school day finishes at 3pm.

The specialist technology school will soon be celebrating its first four years of specialist school status. It has recently been accepted for the second phase of specialist status.

Emma-Kate Lidbury