School Toilets 'Bullying Fears'

School toilets are all too often places avoided by pupils.

Schoolchildren are reluctant to use badly maintained toilets where bullies may loiter, the cleaning industry says.

The British Cleaning Council (BCC) has warned that children are unwilling to use unhygienic, badly equipped toilets.
Backing a campaign on the issue, it says too many school toilets are closed for part of the day, and others that boys and girls have to share.

"Children are just as entitled as adults to clean toilet facilities," said campaign chairman Steve Wright.

"Clean, safe, equipped and accessible toilets are becoming high on children's wish lists - but many UK schools are failing to provide this," says Mr Wright.

He warned that poor hygiene could "lead to increased infections such as bacterial diarrhoea and hepatitis A".

The BCC is backing a drive to improve toilet facilities in schools, called Bog Standard.

Also backing the campaign is the Association of Building Cleaning Direct Service Providers - and organisation spokesman David Frogett called for an upgrade in school toilets in the same way that there had been improvements in school food.

"We have had school dinners revolutionised by Jamie Oliver, now it's about time the toilets were sorted out too. We propose that there's a minimum standard of two cleans a day," said Mr Frogett.

Partnerships for Schools, the agency which is overseeing a major programme of rebuilding and renovating schools, accepts that there is a problem with children being reluctant to use toilets at school.

"There is a very real issue around bullying in schools, with toilet blocks recognised as a hot spot for bullies to target those they choose to intimidate and threaten," says chief executive Tim Byles.

"In a bid to avoid having to visit the toilet at school, many young people refuse to drink water, exposing them to the risk of becoming dehydrated or even developing bladder and bowel problems."

But Mr Byles says that upgraded guidelines would mean that "cramped, dirty and vandalised toilets can become a thing of the past".

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said that it was clearly unacceptable that children might be put off using toilets for fear of bullying.

He said: "We expect teachers to take poor behaviour very seriously.

"School buildings and facilities have already improved immeasurably. But there is more to do.

"We've given schools record capital investment over the next three years and they’ve now got clear design guidance, so schools can build high quality pupil toilets."

With thanks to BBC News: bbc.co.uk/news for this news item.