SA Children’s Commissioner Helen Connolly reveals top concerns of students in Year 8, 9 and 10

A survey of SA high school students has revealed the most worrying trends on campus, with toilets, sexism, racism and uniform rules topping the agenda.

Schools are locking bathrooms, including during class time, to try to stop students from using them as a hideaway to vape.

The increasing takeover of toilets by groups using e-cigarettes is making others feel excluded from an “essential” facility and prompting calls for more secure cubicles.

Almost 550 students at public and private high schools across the state have shared their concerns with Children’s Commissioner Helen Connolly.

In a new report Ms Connolly reveals that Year 8, 9 and 10 students are also regularly experiencing sexism and racism at school, including from teachers.

They feel uniform rules are being “too strictly policed” and want more lessons focused on “real world” topics including taxes, driving and parenting.

In her report, titled Seen But Not Heard, Ms Connolly notes school bathrooms “were a hot topic among students” and had “become places to hangout during breaks”.

SA’s Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly. Source: Supplied

Despite the inclusion of wellbeing areas at many schools, students said the toilets were “the only place” where they felt they could go to “have a good cry” or calm down without being watched.

Ms Connolly told The Advertiser teachers were often restricting access to bathrooms in a bid to prevent vaping, but this sent the message that they suspected all students would do the wrong thing.

“They have to get permission, they have to get a key … or fill out a (access) slip,” she said.

“What it says to them is they’re not trusted.”

Students told Ms Connolly they wanted upgrades to facilities to ensure “better cubicle doors that lock, and walls that peers can’t see through, come under or jump over”.

Education Department standards for new school buildings, or upgrades, state toilets should be “designed as fully enclosed toilet cubicles” providing for “complete privacy”.

“Students must not be able to easily see between gaps in to the toilet cubicle,” the guidelines say.

However areas of existing schools not affected by a redevelopment or upgrade “do not need to comply”.

The Advertiser has previously reported more than 1000 students a year are being suspended for vaping, often on school grounds or in bathrooms.

At least 12 public schools have installed vape detectors at a cost of up to $2000 per unit.

Ms Connolly’s findings follow controversy in recent years over the removal of toilet doors, or restricting access, at three schools.

Grant High School, in the state’s South East, limited student access to its toilets in response to a pupils smearing faeces on the walls, ceilings and sinks.

At Modbury High School, in Adelaide’s north, doors were removed at the entryways to bathrooms making urinals visible from the hallway.

At nearby Golden Grove High School doors were removed in an attempt to “mimic” the design of individual, non-gendered toilets being built in an upgraded part of the school.

Both metropolitan schools were directed by the department in May 2022 to reinstall the external doors.

The department also issued a “reminder to all public education sites” at the time to “ensure their facilities meet privacy requirements”.

Originally published as SA Children’s Commissioner Helen Connolly reveals top concerns of students in Year 8, 9 and 10