A schoolgirl has mounted a successful campaign for her school to overturn a rule that banned pupils from going to the toilet during lesson time.

Myfanwy Taylor-Bean, 15, collected more than 400 signatures in a petition after Bushey Meads School introduced the rule.

Since last year, pupils from Year 7 right through to Year 11 could only go to the toilet during morning break, lunchtime, and before the school day starts – and the toilets were completely locked during lesson times.

After she handed the petition in, the school relaxed some of the rules – but only by opening main toilets for 15 minutes before and after break and lunch and keeping the disabled toilets open.

Myfanwy started the petition to enable girls to visit the toilets freely when they were undergoing their periods.

Her petition, which she started last month on March 19, stated: “I am concerned about the toilet situation in the school for female students and wish for there to be changes made”.

Myfanwy believes that girls can get a period at any time – for example during class – but if the toilets are locked, they have nowhere to go. 

The 15-year-old said it was an unfortunate experience of her own which prompted her to start her campaign.

She said: “It was an issue we had talked about because many of us had embarrassing and uncomfortable situations and it was something that happened to me which sparked it. We just can’t go. Sometimes teachers let us out but we are not allowed to use the disabled toilets. Parents have been signing it too.

“Bushey Meads is a brilliant school but this needs to change. It feels like it goes against our human rights.”

The toilets at Bushey Meads work on a fingerprint system, which automatically locks students out during lesson times. Disabled toilets were accessible during lesson time but a ‘red card’ was needed to access them. This rule has now been relaxed.

Although unconfirmed by the school, it is believed the rule was brought in because of vandalism and bunking off.

A parent has told the Watford Observer there was no consultation before the toilet ban was introduced.

Myfanwy plans to attend the sixth form college at Bushey Meads where the toilet rule does not apply. – but says she is determined to have the rules fully changed.

Myfanwy handed her petition in to a teacher and this week she was pulled to one side by the head teacher Jeremy Turner.

As a result of her campaign, the school has made some changes.

There will now be full access to the disabled toilet at all times while the main toilets will be open during certain times during lessons– but it appears they will remain locked during some times of the day.

Myfanwy says she feels “really pleased, empowered, and proud” about the changes that she has been able to enforce.

Bushey Meads did not respond to approaches made by the Watford Observer.