St Bede’s in Mentone students claim they are prevented from going to the toilet during class

Students at a Catholic boys’ school in Mentone claim they are being stopped from leaving class to use the toilet or get a drink after a “trashed” bathroom sparked a crackdown.

Students claim they are being stopped from using the toilet during class at St Bede's College. Picture: David Geraghty

Students claim they are being stopped from leaving class to use the toilet or get a drink after pupils “trashed” a bathroom at a Catholic boys’ school in Mentone.

The Herald Sun has been told a group of St Bede’s College students vandalised the senior bathroom on Tuesday, which included toilet seats being smashed and dispensers ripped off walls, sparking the crackdown.

A senior student from the school said he was angered after a new policy was enacted in response to the incident, which prevents pupils from going to the toilet during class.

“They (students) have trashed the bathrooms and teachers have told us that our deputy principal Mark Jones has adamantly instructed them to not allow students to leave during class,” the student said.

“This rule is quite extremist and unreasonable.

“Many students are unhappy with this change, and it has led to a significant number of students going to the bathrooms between classes, resulting in long lines and crowded conditions in the bathrooms.”

The school denies students will be stopped from going to the bathroom.

St Bede’s Grammar denies students will be stopped from going to the bathroom. Picture: David Geraghty

But in an email sent out to students on Thursday, Mr Jones said teachers were asked not to allow students out of class during a lesson and to not let them out of class before the bell.

“If you are out of class during class time you will be asked to explain why, if you cannot provide a valid reason, you will be required to explain yourself after school to Mr Mills, Mr Jones or your House Coordinator,” Mr Jones wrote.

“Students will not be permitted to leave class to get water bottles from their locker or get a drink at the taps. Please use recess, lunchtime or the breaks between classes to do this.”

Mr Wilson said the school was “deeply disappointed” at the behaviour of a small number of Year 10 and 11 students, which had been negatively impacting safety and amenity of other students.

“Procedures are in place to ensure staff know where students are at all times, and to ensure every student is accounted for,” he told the Herald Sun.

“St Bede’s makes no apologies for keeping our students safe.

“To be clear, students are allowed to bring water bottles into class and are able to use the bathroom during class time, with permission.”

The restrictions at St Bede’s College come as a range of private and public schools around the state are bringing in similar bans and putting in place measures to stop students from vaping in toilets, vandalising and other anti-social behaviour.

Some have even hired door monitors to record students entering and exiting bathrooms. Others have installed cameras at the entrance of toilets or require students to only use a central toilet during the office during class time.

There are also reports students are using toilets as “TikTok film studios”, “porn parlours” and “amateur tattoo joints”.