A WEST FIFE school has been forced to re-open its main girls’ toilets after a petition against the closure was signed by more than 500 pupils in less than 24 hours.

The facilities for female students at St Columba’s High School were locked every lunchtime until the end of the day, leading girls to claim they could use just one disabled toilet between them during that period. 

The school said the action had been taken to address truancy and vandalism but the toilets have now been re-opened after a petition was signed by 556 pupils in less than 24 hours. 

S4 pupil Sarah Akers, 14, from Dunfermline, started the petition and told the Press: “The toilets have been locked since just before the Christmas break now and there are a lot of girls who are complaining.

“There’s just one disabled toilet but it’s normally blocked and it’s quite embarrassing because there’s always a long line. 

“It’s unsanitary and there was no discussion at all about them doing this, some of the teachers didn’t even know this was going on and totally disagree. 

“The Department for Education says that there should be one toilet for every 20 pupils over the age of 11. 

“I’m hoping that the petition will make sure that this gets sorted.”

Sarah said that the toilets were locked because a small number of people had been truanting and causing problems there. 

Councillor Alice McGarry, who is backing the campaign, said: “This seems incredibly bizarre. I have written to Fife Council’s education officer to ask what is going on. 

“I do not know what the rationale is behind this. It is just not acceptable. 

“My kids went to St Columba’s and I’ve never heard of such a thing. It’s obviously frustrating for the girls and it’s very brave of Sarah to start a petition.”

Chloe McGachan, from Ballingry, wrote on the Change.org petition: “I’m currently a senior pupil and I am absolutely disgusted by the actions that have been taken in relation to this issue. 

“The school needs to deal with the girls who are causing this issue and not generalise it.”

Laura Crosbie, from Dunfermline, also wrote: “It’s ridiculous and girls won’t be able to change their sanitary products during that time and locking the girls’ bathrooms could create bladder problems for girls.”

Kevin O’Connor, headteacher, said: “This was a short-term measure to address specific issues of vandalism and truancy surrounding the main girls’ toilets just before Christmas.

"We wanted to try something different to disrupt this pattern of behaviour, change the school culture and improve the facilities for pupils.

“We encourage and listen to pupil feedback. The temporary closure was always going to be reviewed this week and, taking into account the petition, the toilets have now been re-opened.

"Through our assemblies over the next two weeks I’ll be talking to all pupils about their rights and responsibilities – the petition was an excellent example of them exercising their rights and now the toilets are open as normal they all have a responsibility to look after them and behave appropriately.

“The majority of pupils are not disruptive and we want to build on this episode for everyone’s benefit.

"We are setting up a social enterprise through which the pupils can link with local businesses, create their own designs for this toilet block and raise funds to, hopefully, turn their designs into a reality.

"This will give pupils a real say in the facilities available to them as well as a sense of ownership and, of course, the project will have educational benefits linking to our culture of enterprise and skills development.”

He added that all other girls' toilets in the school were kept open at all times – the temporary afternoon closures only affected the main toilet block.