THE fact that a large number of pupils at Bedale High School felt confident enough to barricade themselves into school toilets and set off alarms in protest against the introduction of identified toilet breaks (Echo, March 10) is worrying.

Bedale high school has been criticised in a recent Ofsted report and, in my view, this lack of discipline reflects very badly on the leadership.

Typically, the parents of the children involved immediately went to their defence with talk of legal advice in relation to the breach of human rights. Ridiculous and quite sad.

Surely this could have been better dealt with by the school and surely the parents involved should have more sense than to condone such irresponsible behaviour by their children?

John Crick, Bishop Auckland.