A WARRINGTON school has addressed the need for CCTV cameras in the student’s toilets after a parent labelled it an ‘invasion of privacy’.

Padgate Academy has revealed the reason for installing cameras in ‘communal areas of the toilets’, stating that this is ‘standard practice’ in secondary schools.

A spokesperson for the school said: “At Padgate Academy, we provide a safe and inclusive environment for all our students.

“This includes ensuring security across all areas of the school. As is standard practice in many secondary schools, we have installed CCTV cameras in communal areas of the toilets.

“These fixed-point cameras do not overlook any cubicles themselves, and only the communal sink areas are visible. This safeguards student privacy.”

The response comes after a parent raised concerns about the cameras situated in the mixed and female toilets on the site – highlighting that one of the cameras was situated ‘above the door of a cubicle’.

While the school has confirmed the cameras are pointed towards the sink areas of the toilets, the parent - who wishes to remain anonymous - has raised her concerns over the levels of privacy that her two daughters that attend the school face, along with their fellow peers.

“I think having cameras in the toilets is absolutely disgusting. For me I think it is an invasion of privacy,” the Latchford mum said.

“I have brought this up with the school multiple times since my daughter started attending the school.”

Detailing when the school first installed the cameras, a spokesperson for Padgate Academy added: “When the CCTV was installed in 2022, we informed all parents and carers of this at that time.”

The Challenge Academy Trust (TCAT) which Padgate Academy is part of, set out the purpose for having surveillance both inside and outside of the school buildings that are part of the Trust in its ‘CCTV Policy’.

Here it states the main purposes of CCTV are to:

  • provide a safe and secure environment for pupils, staff and visitors

  • prevent the loss of or damage to the Trust buildings and/or assets

  • To assist in the prevention of crime and assist law enforcement agencies in apprehending offenders