Require schools to let children use the toilet at all times in the school day
Make it mandatory for schools to allow students to go to the toilet at all times throughout the school day when they need to and do not lock toilets so that they aren’t accessible during certain times of the day.
Signatures
19,728
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 10,000/10,000 · reached
Debate threshold (100,000) · 19,728/100,000
- 18 JAN 2026Petition closedFinal total: 19,728 signatures
- 26 NOV 2025Government respondedDepartment for EducationGovernment reply
Schools are responsible for setting policies, including around toilet use. They must do this in line with national behaviour guidance, and in a way which treats all pupils with dignity and respect.
Read full response - 07 NOV 202510,000 signatures reachedEligible for a government response
- 18 JUL 2025Petition opened for signatures
Background
We believe some children’s mental and physical health is being affected by not allowing them to access a toilet during school lessons and even break times. We think some children are limiting how much they drink during the day so they don’t have to go to toilet and some girls are struggling with menstruation where access to use the toilet may be denied to them during certain times of the day. We think children are being punished for using the toilet when they need to. We're concerned that this can happen in the year 2025.