Bog Standard - Information section

Promoting better toilets for pupils

Case Studies

Read about how some of the schools have successfully improved their toilets, by:

I would like to show that with support from a school, a child with bladder/bowel problems can be successfully managed.

The school my son attends is Glebelands Primary School in Dundee, Scotland and my son feels that the toilet facilities and arrangements completely meet his needs.

My son has a reflux to his left kidney, is susceptible to bladder infections and has difficulty managing his bladder. His health needs are constantly changing. We have good open communication with the school and they actually listen to his needs. The head teacher, deputy head teacher and appropriate staff at his school have taken the time to talk to my son and to have meetings with myself and husband to understand exactly what his needs are. I also keep the school informed of any updates from the medical tests that my son has. I know that the school supports other students with bladder/bowel problems and I find the staff to have a very positive attitude towards helping as necessary. The local education service has also provided information and support which has been very helpful.

When he started primary school the toilets were at some distance from the classroom which is not ideal. His teacher allows him to go to the toilet whenever he needs and was careful to tell him this to allay any anxiety. He has a classroom assistant to take him at set times to the toilet and verbally encourage him to take time and to pass as much as he can. The deputy head set support in place by arranging members of staff that were available at set times throughout the day to take him regularly to the toilet so that he does not worry about it and takes his time to empty properly. Yet my son's needs are dealt with quietly by staff so they are not obvious to other children. Without this support it would make his problems worse and he would be frequently wet but not actually empty his bladder which would remain 3/4 full. It also stops his kidney condition from getting worse and reduces the chance of getting more bladder infections.

The local council has also given out water bottles for school children and this helps my son to drink some water throughout the school day which is so important.

The support from the school and local council has made a huge difference to his medical and psychological health and I can’t praise them enough.

I was in a double lesson and i needed to go to the toilet badly so i said "sir I need the toilet" he replyed "no". "but sir I REALLY need to go" I was told no again. I went back to my place and eventually wet myself!
A week later at home I told my mum. She wrote to my school and went on the bog standard website for help.
We found out we have no rights to go to the toilet or even have toilet roll and soap (we don't have these at my school)
I told my mum if i was in prison i would have rights but because I'm a kid at school no one seems to care!
So my mum and me got to work. I have written to members of parliament and the children’s commissioner as suggested on the bog standard website.
We have started an online petition on the Prime Minister's website. I am going to get as much publicity as possible, not many adults know we have no rights to have decent toilets.
As for the petition please sign up, pass the address on, make posters, tell your mates.
We need as many signatures as possible. It's time something was done.

Bog Standard response:

To sign Peter's righttogo petition click here It just takes a few seconds. Please encourage others to sign, but only one person can sign from each email address. We really need your help.

In our school the toilets are dirty, smelly and LOCKED during lessons. In cases where pupils need to be sick (throw up) they have to:
Get the teacher to sign their planner
Go to the Nurse and get the key
Unlock the door
Find a cubicle that isn't disgusting....
And if you make it that far.... be sick!
Pupils don't usually make it that far and are sick before they even get the key. My best friend was in that situation and that made me angry. Our school promises they will refurbish the toilets but they won't even put any soap in them. Some teachers let you use the toilets but some make a spectacle about only going at lunch and say NO. What should I do?

Bog Standard response:

Some pupils have shown their teachers this website which has created a better understanding of the need to work with pupils to achieve improved, open toilets. Involving pupils is key to improving and then respecting the toilets in the long term. The teachers need to be shown that the pupils can be trusted and that decent toilets are a win-win result for everyone - happier, healthier, better behaved pupils, who are easier to teach! Schools teach life skills and how to be responsible. Children and young people should be given the opportunity to show they can be responsible so that they grow up as respected members of the community.

Miriam Mole, headteacher at Manor High School, Sandwell. A mixed comprehansive with 711 pupils.
"I always hated restricting pupils' access to the toilets. Soon after I joined the school we opened them during lessons, but had big problems so closed them again. The school was keen to achieve the Bog Standard school toilet Award, offered through our local Healthy Schools Programme. The pupils were very actively involved throughout the audit and action plan for improvements. The school council surveyed all the pupils, made all the decisions (such as installing a CCTV camera at the entrance) and controlled the budget. This has transformed the toilets and the pupils' behaviour. They are justly proud of what they have achieved. The toilets remain open throughout the day and this isn't a problem now. The pupils can go to the toilet when they need to and they are sensible about this. The staff even use them now. It shows that if you involve the pupils in creating good quality toilets, then the pupils will look after them and respect them. We were the first school in the UK to gain the Award and we were all thrilled. Ofsted congratulated the pupils on achieving the Bog Standard Award."

Bog Standard response:

Manor High School is the first school in the UK to achieve our new School Toilet Award (initially called the Bog Standard Award). Achieving open access to toilets throughout the day is a requirement of the Award. For more information see the Healthy Schools page on this site

Talking Toilets