Provision of toilets at school (per head)

[Saisong]

My DD who is in Y6 tells me they have 1 working toilet for girls in the Y6 block - 4 classes of 30, therefore approximately 60 girls. This is the only toilet available outside of break time (when they can use the toilets in another block). The Y6 boys at least have 2 toilets plus urinals.

Given that these are 10/11 year olds, some of whom are experiencing puberty with all that entails. My own DD says she doesn't feel comfortable using the toilet as there is often someone waiting. She comes home desperate for the loo each day. Despite her discomfort she doesn't want me to raise this with the school. I'm not happy with the situation though - should I raise it? There is one other toilet but it is broken and has been for some time.

P.S. I know there is a problem with toilet trolls in this topic, I hope this does not come across as so.

I think first step is to ask the school to fix the broken toilet. Or fund raise to be fixed.

The Head should be dealing with this. It’s clearly not acceptable. You don’t have to raise funds to fix toilets. If the Head cannot give you a date for the loos to be fixed, contact the chair of Givernirs. They are responsible for the fabric of the school.

British standard 6465 says that for schools there should be 1 toilet for every 15 children for those aged over 5. There should be a split between boys and girls, obviously. So you need to know how many children there are from Y1 to y6 and calculate how many loos there should be. Could the y6 children use other loos in the school?

Thanks I'll look into that standard.

They can access other toilets at break time, but in lesson time they are in a seperate block with keypad controlled doors I.e. they can't come and go freely without a teacher.

You're right though, the least I can do is ask for them to fix the broken toilet.

Maybe certain girls could be given the code for Energency use? Try and negotiate something. They may have enough loos but they cannot be accessed freely. Having said that, surely they are not used much in lesson time?

There is no legal minimum for schools.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410294/Advice_on_standards_for_school_premises.pdf

Most loo going by the time DC are 10+ will be in break time, when there are, as you say, enough loos available..

During lessons, when items likely only those with urgent need will be let out, there is one loo. Which they can just go to, unlike in some secondaries where they have to report to an office and get a key.

Yes, they need to get in with getting the non working loos fixed. But only having one loo availaable during lessons is not unusual.