School rips out mirrors to get kids back in class

A school has removed all mirrors from its toilets because pupils are spending too much time in them.

Grant Edgar, headteacher of William Farr Comprehensive School in Welton, near Lincoln, said: "Mirrors can encourage students to spend too much time in toilets often in large groups".

Mr Edgar added this can make some children feel "uncomfortable".

However, one parent said the decision was "silly" and "a bit extreme" while another said it was "strange".

Mr Edgar said the academy faced "some issues at transition times" and this could "affect punctuality to lessons".

Mirrors, according to Mr Edgar, "encourage" students to spend too much time in toilets and students often gathered there in "large groups".

"This can make it uncomfortable for some students to use the toilets," he said.

If students require a mirror "for a medical purpose", they can ask for one at reception.

One parent, Kelly, said she found the decision "quite strange" and believed the removal of mirrors would affect her daughter.

"My daughter has contact lenses and braces," she said.

"She does need a mirror if she needs to get her contact lenses out."

Kelly said she believed the decision would not "get rid of any issues".

Another parent, also called Kelly, said the removal of the mirrors was "silly" and "a bit extreme".

"They're just mirrors, aren't they?"

"We have mirrors at home, why can't we have them in school?" she asked.

Karen, also a parent, said she first found out about the mirrors after her daughter told her.

"I said what's your issue?" she asked.

"She can't go in and check her hair and check her eyelashes haven't fallen off," Karen said.

"Now she can't do that and she can get to class on time, it's actually probably not a bad thing."

Karen said she could see the "pros and cons" to the decision, but there may be circumstances where a mirror was needed.

"What if they have something in their teeth?"

Psychologist Emma Kenny said although schools have "a right to institute rules" children should be "part of decisions".

"You don't know what's going on in that kid's life," she said.

"That hub in the bathroom where they are checking make-up and covering spots can be powerfully important to them."

Ms Kenny said she believed the "bigger issue" should tackle why children are spending too much time in school toilets.

"Maybe something needs to change intrinsically within the school," she said.

"It can feel like you are running a gauntlet at high school even if you have lovely teachers and pastoral support."

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