A MUM has slammed her daughter's school toilet policy after she was left 'sitting in a used sanitary pad' all day.

She said the problem is particularly bad at Bourne End Academy as they don't allow girls to use the toilet when they're on their period.

Alice Quick spoke to the Free Press about her disgust and anger towards the way the school is treating female students.

The school denies these claims and said they have specially designated toilet blocks students can use during lesson time.

However Ms Quick said: "It's an absolute joke. She came home and said to me 'Mum I can't change my sanitary towel, the school isn’t allowing us to change'. If they're in the toilets for more than five minutes they get sanctioned for it and an afterschool detention.

"Kids don’t have access to toilets until lunchtime and some are going to sit in a dirty pad all day long, it's disgusting how they're doing this and how they're getting away it."

Alice believes the school implemented the rules after students in the older year groups were bunking in the toilets to avoid lessons.

But she doesn't think its fair to punish the younger year groups.

"Older ones [students] should know right from wrong. To shut it for year 7 and year 8 where they come from primary school and go to secondary school and can't use them - it is a prison block.

"Some kids have a weak bladder and can't hold it until 11am."

Alice's daughter is in year 7 and started her period after her 12th birthday. She also has autism, ADHD and struggles in social situations with anxiety.

Alice said: "From what I can remember we were allowed to go toilet and we were allowed to be excused. It's disgusting because she came on her period a week after her 12th birthday and she now has periods where one month it's really light and other times really heavy and if she’s really heavy she needs to change it. Girls are being told they should be doing this through break time but what if it leaks through, how embarrassing.

"They basically have to sit in a sanitary towel from 8.30am to 11.30am until breaktime. They get a 15-minute break and then back in class until 1pm.

"Young girls suffer with hormones all over the place and body image as it is, it's disgusting that you're not allowed to go toilet.

"I’ve tried to battle with that school so many times but it's like banging your head against a wall." 

Headteacher Louise Cowley said: "We don’t recognise this portrayal of the Academy in any way – all staff are able to use their professional judgement as to when a student is able to leave the classroom. 

"We have specially designated toilet block that students are able to use during lessons, with all other facilities open at break and lunchtimes.”