School Toilets

[rhys336]

Dose there have to be a certain amount of toilets in a school?

[Whickerman]

The only specific legislation on toilets for pupils in England and Wales is Statutory Instrument No. 2 �The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999�. This law specifies the number of toilets and washbasins that pupils must have. There is no mention in the legislation of cleanliness, privacy or condition.

This law set out the number of toilets and washbasins that should be provided according to the number of pupils in all existing and new maintained schools.

Toilets

Pupils over 5 years of age: 1 toilet for every 20 pupils
Pupils under the age of 5: 1 toilet for every 10 pupils
In special schools: 1 toilet for every 10 pupils, regardless of age
Washbasins

Where the majority of pupils are under 11: as many washbasins as toilets
Where the majority are over 11:

Washrooms with 1 toilet must contain at least 1 washbasin
Washrooms with 2 toilets must contain at least 2 washbasins
Washrooms with 3 or more toilets must have at least two thirds the number of washbasins as there are toilets
The law also states that toilet areas for male and female pupils over the age of 8 must be separate. Girls� toilets should not have urinals.

Pupils� ages are defined on the day before the start of the autumn term. For example, if a pupil is ten on that day but turns 11 a few days later, the regulations would still count him/her as a ten-year-old for the rest of the academic year.

There is accompanying guidance on the Regulations called: Standards for School Premises; Guidance: Management & Finance 2000; For Local education authorities, Headteachers & governors; Ref DFEE 0029/2000. This explains the law in greater detail.