Designers & Architects - Location of school toilets

Many pupils have to travel some distance within the school to get to the toilet. This can make teachers reluctant to let pupils out of class to visit the toilet. Toilets located away from classrooms present particular difficulties for pupils with special needs.

Toilets attached to each classroom or cluster of classrooms are a particularly good solution. These allow pupils easier access to toilets during lessons and enable teachers to keep a closer eye on pupils.

In some schools, pupils are not allowed to go to the toilet at certain times because teachers don't want them inside the building during break. Toilets which can be accessed directly from the playground, as well as from the inside of the building, could solve this problem.

Toilets located throughout the school makes visiting them easier (particularly for pupils who have difficulty 'holding on'). It also means pupils won't be wandering around the corridors.

If practical, toilets for specific year groups could be provided, in addition to general toilets. This would help tackle bullying.

Toilets need to be near playing fields and next to playgrounds. Purpose-built toilet ‘pods’ (built off site) are one solution.

Rooms where exams may be taken should also have toilets close by. These include assembly halls and sports halls.

Drinking water facilities and outlets should not be sited in a toilet area.

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