|
Case Studies
Read about how some of the schools have successfully improved their
toilets, by:
45 Year 9 pupils at Monkseaton High School in Tyneside won top prize and £50,000 in a national design competition for schools.
Their brief in the Creative Spaces competition was to design ways to improve the school environment. The school reported that when they entered the competition they asked the pupils which area of the school they least liked, and they said the toilets. The head, Paul Kelley, said, “Some said they'd often wait until they got home to use the toilet, which was a concern because of the potential effects on their health.”
After joining forces with an architect, the pupils came up with a plan to design a series of individual toilet pods to replace the traditional blocks of communal toilets. The steel pods are pill-shaped, fitted with smoke detectors and themed: a green one with footballs is on the sports ground, while an aquamarine one is in the foyer by a fish tank.
Mr Kelley approves of the pupils’ work and said, “Giving pupils responsibility often leads to better solutions.” The final judging took place in London at the Royal Institute of British Architects, and industry professionals assessed the designs.
Designer Wayne Hemingway, who said the pupils had identified an important problem, awarded the prize. “My girls say they don’t use the toilets at school either,” said Mr Hemingway. The pupils get the chance to use the money to transform their design into realilty.
| |
Changing rooms
It was the same old story at Park Walk Primary School in London. Toilet paper on the ceiling, broken seats and general mess – until the school council decided to redecorate. With a budget of £500, they chose new tiles, mirrors and floor patterns which would bring some colour to the dull bathrooms. The school council is planning to keep the toilets looking good by putting up eye-catching posters encouraging pupils to look after the facilities.
| |
Back to top
Back to Case Studies Listings
|
Promoting
better toilets for pupils