A CONCERNED parent says she is ‘horrified’ to learn that CCTV cameras had been installed in toilets at Newton Abbot College.

Social media was alive at the end of last week with rumours that the cameras had been installed in the toilets in a bid to cut down on vandalism and vaping.

But the mother of the Year 10 pupils said: ‘I’m horrified if this is what has been done.

‘My son says he will never go to the toilet again in that school.

‘I’ve spoken with a few other mums and they are outraged too.

‘If the college is having problems with vandalism and vaping in the toilets this is no way to deal with it, they should find another way.

‘School toilets have been renowned for decades as areas where bad practice occurs, it is not new!

‘But now it is Big Brother rather than staff management, despite the growing incidents of safeguarding issues and paedophilia in school and health care environments. Safeguarding is as more important as ever, with strict regulation over surveillance of vulnerable ages – young and old.

‘If it’s true, we certainly should not find out about this on social media and @spotted Newton Abbot.

‘I know what can and can’t be done with CCTV cameras and this should not be allowed to happen.

‘We want them out.’

In a letter to parents, college headteacher Mrs Amy Grashof wrote: ‘I would like to take the opportunity to end this letter by addressing the presence of cameras in the student toilets as I know there have been a few concerns raised.

‘The cameras were installed over the summer. The cameras are fixed and only focus on the washbasins; they do not cover inside the cubicles/urinals and do not track human motion within the toilets.

‘They were installed for two reasons; the main one being in response to several parents/carers who were concerned about the safety of students when going to the toilet.

‘The cameras will hopefully therefore ensure that students feel safe because we should be able to identify any students engaging in unacceptable behaviour who can then be sanctioned appropriately.

‘The second reason is because there have been a number of incidents of vandalism in student toilets which is really disappointing and completely unacceptable because of the lack of respect it demonstrates for the college and the students in it who use the toilets.

‘The cameras will therefore enable us to see who is responsible for the vandalism which will hopefully deter anyone tempted to damage the toilets, ensuring that the disappointing actions of a few don’t impact on the 99% of students at our college who conduct themselves really well and respect the college environment.

‘It is really important to us that college is a safe, pleasant and smart environment for our students, and this is just one of the measures we have to help achieve this.

‘Please be reassured that we are not constantly monitoring the cameras; they will be accessed only when needed for the reasons given above and are only accessed by a code.

‘I would also like to let you know that I have asked this morning for the non-working “dummy” cameras that were installed in the Art block cubicle toilets to be removed to avoid any unnecessary confusion or anxiety.

‘Now that we have a full student cohort in college, we have explained the reason for the cameras in tutor time today, so students are aware of what I have shared with you above.’

Ex-principal sorry for poor communications.

Paul Cornish, CEO of the multi-academy trust and Principal of Newton Abbot College at the time the CCTV cameras were installed at the college, said: ‘The facts of the matter are that some CCTV cameras have been positioned in communal hand-washing areas in some of the college’s bathroom facilities.

‘This is a response to some relatively infrequent occurrences of anti-social behaviours in the facilities by a very small minority of our students.

‘We also had some concerns raised by some parents that their children could be made to feel safer during the college day using these facilities.

‘The CCTV already existing in the college has been extended to improve the experience and the safeguarding of our students.

‘It acts as both a deterrent and an identifying mechanism for anti-social behaviours.

‘Our aim is, and always has been, for all Newton Abbot College students to feel safe and happy, in order to be successful in college.

‘At no stage, now or in the future, are any working cameras positioned in any area of the college where students can be seen in a state of undress or using any lavatory facilities.

‘Our entire CCTV system is password protected and can only be viewed by a limited number of trained staff.

‘The main error on the part of the college in this situation has been the poor internal and external communication and lack of wider consultation.

‘We are conducting an internal review of the decision-making and implementation process to highlight where this aspect fell down and how to ensure this is vastly improved moving forward.’

Mr Cornish added: ‘I apologise profusely to the parents and community of Newton Abbot College for the completely unsatisfactory communication around this issue in the last few weeks of my tenure as Principal of the College.

‘I am full of regret that the new headteacher has had to start her time at the helm with this issue over-shadowing the incredible start to the academic year that she, the staff and the students at the college have made.’