School Toilets FAQs
Considering undertaking a school toilet refurbishment? We’ve answered some of the top questions below. If you don’t see your query or need more information, please give us a call on 0115 811 4242.
What Are The Legal Requirements For School Toilets In The UK?
The legal requirements for school toilets can look very different for primary and secondary schools.
To summarise, primary schools must provide enough toilets and washbasins for pupils. However, from age 8+ (Year 3), separate toilets for boys and girls are required. There is an exception for schools which have an enclosed toilet room which can be locked from the inside, as this type of toilet facility doesn't have to be gender specific.
Secondary schools must provide separate toilets for boys and girls. However, unisex toilets are permitted if they are fully enclosed. Suitable changing accommodation and showers must also be provided for pupils aged 11+ who have PE.
All schools must also provide accessible toilet facilities for pupils, staff or visitors to comply with the Equality Act 2010.
What Are Common Problems With School Toilets?
School toilets are subject to heavy use, meaning the quality of the fixtures and fittings will degrade over time. Unfortunately, pupils don’t always take the best care of the facilities either. Sometimes, poor design and planning also create problems with school toilets.
As a result, some common issues we address within our school toilet refurbishments include:
- Broken toilets, cubicles or hand basins
- Water leaks
- Doors that don’t lock properly
- Not enough toilets to cater to the number of pupils or staff
- Unpleasant atmosphere or dated decor
- Graffiti on walls
- Lack of soap, toilet paper or sanitary supplies
- Humidity, mould or odour issues
- Poor lighting
- Inadequate accessible (disabled) toilet facilities
- Damaged flooring
Recognise any of the above issues within your primary or secondary school? Or, do you have any more to add to our list? Please contact us today to learn how we could transform your school toilets through our expert refurbishment services!
Should Primary School Toilets Be Unisex?
As per the School Premises (Regulations) 2012, school children aged 8+ are required to have separate toilet facilities for girls and boys.
The only exception to this rule is when the toilet is contained within a room that can be locked from the inside and is intended to be used by one pupil at a time.
The debate over unisex toilets can be confusing for primary and secondary schools alike. If you are unsure of the requirements for your particular school, please contact us for tailored advice.
How Can Schools Make Toilets Less Intimidating For Younger Children?
If you’ve taken a look at our case studies page, then you’ll know we are huge fans of colourful school toilet renovations here at Inspired Washrooms!
The use of colourful tones is a fantastic way to put pupils at ease within school toilet areas. The exact colours can also be chosen with your school branding in mind.
Also, it’s common for school toilets to feel intimidating because they feel ‘too big’. To combat this, our school toilets feature child height toilets and basins so that everything is within easy reach. An age appropriate design is important as it supports independence and dignity.
For children with sensory sensitivities, we can also install measures such as quieter hand dryers, acoustic panels and soft close toilet seats.
How Many Toilets Should A Secondary School Provide?
Secondary schools in England must provide at least one toilet for every 20 pupils. For mixed gender schools, separate facilities must be provided for boys and girls. There are also specific requirements for disabled toilets which need to be met.
How Can Secondary Schools Prevent Vandalism In Toilets?
It can take a combined approach involving teachers and pupils to reduce and prevent vandalism in school toilets.
At Inspired Washrooms, we can also install anti-vandal measures for your school toilets to ensure your school toilets remain a pleasant environment for students. Some of the top ideas include vandal-resistant sensor taps, concealed trap urinals and anti-graffiti surfaces.
If your school toilets have previously been vandalised, speak to our experts about the ways in which we can combat the issue from a design perspective.
Do Schools Need To Have Disabled Toilets?
Yes, schools are required to provide disabled toilet facilities as per Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 and the Equality Act 2010.
These facilities must include adequate space and grab rails. In some cases, specialised equipment like hoists or changing benches is also required to ensure dignity and inclusion.
Inspired Washrooms specialises in disabled (accessible) toilet installation, including for schools.
If you are unsure of the requirements or need to include a disabled toilet installation as part of your school toilet refurbishment project, please contact us to find out more.
How Much Does It Cost To Refurbish School Toilets?
We’d like to provide you with a specific price here, but as we’re sure you can appreciate, no two school toilet refurbishment projects look the same!
Broadly speaking, it will depend on:
- The number of toilets to be installed
- Whether staff toilets also need to be installed
- The conditioning of the existing space (i.e. plumbing, drainage and electrics)
- Installing accessible toilets
- Cubicle and IPS system specification
- Plumbing or mechanical upgrades
- The specification of fixtures and finishes
- Whether vandalism prevention measures are needed
- Other professional fees or surveys required
Please contact our friendly team today to arrange your free quote. From there, we can outline all of the costs involved for your school depending on the scope of your requirements.
How Often Should School Toilets Be Replaced?
School toilets are subject to heavy use and so will likely require replacement every 10-15 years. Although some elements, such as sanitaryware, can last for up to 25 years, the likes of taps, flooring, walls and cubicle doors can degrade faster.
What’s most important is not to focus solely on the age of your school toilets, but rather their condition. If your school toilets require constant maintenance or their general condition is letting your school down, a refurbishment is likely long overdue.
How Long Does It Take To Refurbish School Toilets?
The typical timeframe for refurbishing school toilets is 3-4 weeks. However, the exact time will very much depend on the number of toilets to be installed and the overall scale of work required.
At Inspired Washrooms, we’ll provide you with a more solid timeline once we’ve visited your school and created a project brief. In particular, we know that minimising disruption to pupils is important to our clients in the education sector. Rest assured, we’ll work with you to outline timeframes and align with your wider requirements as a school so that you’ll always be kept in the loop.
How To Plan New School Toilets Around Term Time?
Arranging for your school toilets to be refurbished during the school holidays is ideal to minimise disruption to pupils. However, depending on the number of toilet facilities your school has, it may still be possible to carry out the installation during term time.
In any case, we recommend scheduling your school toilet refurbishment as soon as possible with our team to secure your preferred timeframe.
Where In The UK Do You Offer School Toilet Refurbishments?
Inspired Washrooms is headquartered in Nottingham, but you’ll find our installation teams working right across the UK.
We install school toilet facilities in Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, London, Manchester, and Nottingham.
Is your primary or secondary school based elsewhere? Please get in touch with our team, as we may still cover your location.





