School toilet cameras turned off after concerns

A secondary school has switched off CCTV cameras in toilet areas within days of them being installed after concerns were raised by parents.

Sponne School in Towcester, Northamptonshire, told parents on Tuesday that the cameras were being set up to address anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Later this week, head teacher Graham Forbes said the cameras had been turned off and a consultancy agency would conduct a review.

He said a "consultation exercise" would be undertaken with parents and carers.

In his letter to parents earlier in the week, Mr Forbes said the school had observed an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the toilets, "which poses a threat to the health, safety and welfare of our students".

Student surveys had also highlighted the toilets as an area of concern, he added.

The school did not specify exactly where the cameras would be positioned, but the letter said they would be "installed in a way that respects the privacy of students - privacy masking is also used where necessary".

"We believed this measure will contribute significantly to creating a safer and more respectful environment for everyone," said Mr Forbes.

But in a statement sent to media later in the week, first reported by the Northampton Chronicle, Mr Forbes referenced "parental concerns".

He said a consultancy agency would review the use of the CCTV and ensure risk assessments and safeguards were in place.

"Until this is completed we have made the decision to turn off the cameras and they will not be activated again until this review is completed," he explained.

Installing cameras and vape detectors in other parts of the school had led to a significant decrease in incidents, he added.

Sponne School, which is run by the Tove Learning Trust, caters for pupils aged 11 to 18.

Schools have been installing CCTV including in toilet areas for more than a decade.

In 2012, campaign group Big Brother Watch said more than 200 schools in England, Wales and Scotland had them positioned in toilets and changing rooms.

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