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A Midland college has banned exam students from going to the toilet alone amid fears over high-tech cheating.

Solihull Sixth Form College said teenagers sitting mock exams later this month would be accompanied to a toilet block by an invigilator.

It added they would not be allowed to close the door if they needed to use an “individual stall”.

Principal Paul Ashdown admitted the decision was “extreme” but said students were caught cheating with mobile phones during toilet breaks in exams last year.

But the move was condemned by an angry parent who said: “This would be degrading to anyone – let alone to kids of 16 and 17.

“It is a clear disregard for basic human rights and is downright wrong.”

In an email to families, Mr Ashdown said: “We have had students attempt to cheat using phones while on toilet breaks during an exam.

“This means that from now on, if a student does require a toilet break during an exam, they will be accompanied into the toilet area by an invigilator of the appropriate sex, and will not be allowed to close the door if they need to use an individual stall.

“Although this may seem a little extreme, it is the only way we can ensure a student does not use a mobile phone while in the toilet.

“Ideally, students should ensure they do not need to break their concentration by going to the toilet in the middle of the exam!

“I know I can rely on you for support with these security measures.

“Last year two of our students were disqualified from exams for attempts to cheat like this, and we do not want any student to feel this is worth attempting ever again.”

The new rule will come into force when mock AS and A2 exams take place later this month.

Mr Ashdown told the Mail the crackdown was an attempt to “protect the future chances of our students”.

He said: “The college is implementing this toilet breaks policy during examinations to make students aware that attempting to cheat is simply not worth it.

“A very small minority of students attempt to cheat and they use increasingly inventive and sophisticated techniques, including using mobile phones smuggled into the toilets.

“However, the consequences of cheating are very severe as students will find themselves disqualified from that exam by the exam board, and possibly even disqualified from all their other exams too.

“We are protecting the future chances of our students by implementing strict security measures.

“The majority of students will not need to use the toilet during an exam, but if they do, our experienced invigilator team will supervise closely, but sensitively, to ensure that no cheating takes place.”