No end in sight for Grant High School’s toilet woes: School forced to take drastic action

A rural high school has struggled to stop its students from trashing bathrooms, as it recovers from a disgusting trend which saw toilet walls and ceilings smeared with faeces.

A South-East public high school has struggled to prevent its younger students from trashing its bathrooms as it recovers for the disgusting trend last year which saw faeces smeared on the walls, ceilings and sinks.

A concerned parent, who first contacted the Messenger about the revolting practice in September last year, reached out again after the school contacted parents on Monday about the persistent vandalism problem.

Though vandalism continues to plague the bathrooms — there have been no repeats of last year’s faeces fiasco.

Current principal Caroline Wakefield wrote to Grant High School parents about the ongoing issue that the school has been trying to get under control.

“Unfortunately, we have continued to experience vandalism and misuse of the student facilities this year,” she said.

“This behaviour is creating an unacceptable environment for other students, and our staff including cleaners and maintenance people.”

A letter to parents from May 2022 regarding Grant High School’s inability to stop vandals plastering toilets with excrement. Picture Supplied

A letter to parents from March 2023 about the ongoing issue of toilets being vandalised at Grant High School. Picture Supplied

Ms Wakefield’s latest correspondence makes it clear the issue is localised to the younger year levels.

The school, which will continue its restricted toilet access policy during lessons, has now implemented a sign-in process to access the toilets in the Hub — which, will be checked at the start and finish of each lesson.

All toilets will be accessible during break times.

The school is also awaiting confirmation of the installation of a fob lock system on all student toilet facilities later this year.

Ms Wakefield said the cost of the fob lock system would not be passed onto parents, with negotiations for its installation underway with contractors.

In May, former principal Fleur Roachock told parents student access to toilets located in the “Hub” would be restricted, with the primary culprits being students in younger years.

The previous letter revealed both boys’ and girls’ toilets had been vandalised with excrement.

Senior toilets had not been vandalised, according to the letter, with the most recent letter reaffirming that they remained free and accessible to senior students throughout the day.

Grant High School has come under fire for its response to students smearing excrement on the walls ceiling and sink of the toilets. Picture: Arj Ganesan

In May a parent, who asked not to be named, said the shocking vandalism was appalling, but the school’s lockout had severe flow-on effects.

“Students are using the toilets to vape, and are also vandalising them. This includes faeces being thrown at walls and ceilings, and smeared over sinks,” they said.

“With toilets needing to be locked during the school day, I’ve also been made aware of a number of instances where a child has been locked inside the toilets.

“Staff are having to enter the toilets and call out to children to ensure nobody is there.

“Of course some children are too embarrassed when using the toilet to call out and are subsequently locked inside, at times for more than an hour.”

Other parents who also wished to maintain their anonymity previously said they wanted to know if the toilets had been cleaned properly given the biohazard risk and potential transfer of hepatitis, gonorrhoea and other diseases.

Ms Wakefield did not comment on whether the school has been able to successfully introduce the school phone ban and prevent students from meeting up to enact their vandalism.

She also would not comment on how often instances of vandalism was occurring.