Bog Standard LogoPromoting better toilets for pupils

The results of a survey into water in schools

Survey results in 2000

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health carried out a survey of drinking facilities in primary and secondary schools in two local education authorities. This survey was done on behalf of ERIC (the charity which organises Bog Standard).

Published in October 2000, the survey revealed that water was not widely available in many schools.

  • 10% of schools provided no drinking water at all
  • Pupils had poor access to water
  • Water bottles in the classroom did not exist
  • The commonest water facilities were taps and traditional fountains
  • The commonest location for these was the toilet area

Survey results in 2003

In 2003, the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) carried out a random survey of primary and secondary schools across the UK. The CPHVA represents over half of school nurses in the UK. It’s one of the organisations behind Bog Standard.

The survey was designed by ERIC, who wanted to evaluate the effects of the Water is Cool in School campaign. ERIC also wanted information on the state of school toilets and whether or not pupils were being allowed to access them when they needed to. For the results of the provision of school toilets click here.

The results from 928 schools were analysed by Newcastle University. The results show a huge improvement in the provision of water in schools since the start of the campaign, but there is still some poor practice.

The Good

  • For the majority of primary schools, drinking water in lessons and throughout the school day is now commonplace (water bottles are permitted (29%) or encouraged (48%) in 78% of the primary schools surveyed)
  • In secondary schools, there has been less encouragement to drink (only 48% of schools have water bottles in classrooms, with 17% encouraged and 31% permitted)
  • Plumbed-in water coolers and chilled modern fountains with a swan neck are increasing in popularity

The Bad

  • Taps (in 21% of schools) and traditional water fountains (in 38% of schools) are still the most prevalent water facilities
  • Drinking water facilities are still most frequently sited in the toilet area (84%) –toilets areas are inappropriate sites for drinking water
  • 14% of schools only allowed access to water at break times
  • 68% of these had no pm break
  • 16% restricted access to part of break only
  • 22% of secondaries did not provide any water at lunch times
  • 3 schools did not allow any access to drinking water all day


Back to top
Back to Fluid intake and diet in schools page
Back to the main 'Water, toilets and health' page
Back to the adults' homepage
Find out what I can do to help
Talking Toilets