A private school in Sydney, Australia, has introduced a system that monitors when students enter and exit bathroom areas, with alerts being sent directly to parents.

 

According to a report by Nine News Australia, St Leo's Catholic College in Wahroonga has stepped up supervision after the school experienced repeated vandalism and misconduct in newly renovated bathrooms.

 

In a message circulated to parents, the school explained that the measures form part of a broader effort to address what it described as “poor decision making” by some learners in the facilities.

 

Assistant principal Patrick Brennan said the school had introduced several strategies to curb the problem. These include increased staff supervision outside bathrooms, encouraging students to use facilities during breaks, and monitoring entry and exit points using CCTV cameras.

 

The school has also been trialling a system that tracks when students leave class to use the bathroom. According to Brennan, the information collected has helped staff hold discussions with students and their parents about the appropriate use of school time.

 

“This trial has provided valuable data to support conversations with both students and parents,” Brennan said, as reported by Nine News Australia.

 

The school acknowledged that some parents may feel the alerts are unnecessary. However, Brennan clarified that the intention is not to discourage normal bathroom use but to ensure facilities are used responsibly and at appropriate times during the school day.

 

Following concerns from parents, school principal Tony Gleeson emphasised that cameras are not installed inside bathrooms or other private areas. He said the cameras are only positioned in external or public spaces such as corridors, playgrounds and entry points to maintain safety and discipline.

 

Gleeson added that the monitoring system complies with policies set by Catholic Schools Broken Bay and relevant privacy laws in Australia.

 

Schools in Australia have increasingly turned to surveillance systems to improve safety and reduce vandalism. Authorities such as NSW Police may also become involved if individuals responsible for damage or misconduct are identified through investigations.

 

The trial at St Leo’s Catholic College is expected to continue as the school evaluates whether the monitoring system improves behaviour and protects school facilities.