Students skipping school due to “horror movie” toilets: Is your school guilty?

School should be a safe space for children, a place where they go to learn, form friendships and find a sense of self. 

Yet a new survey from Parentkind has revealed a startling problem. More than one in ten (11%) parents have had a child ask to miss school because of the poor state of the toilets. 

In the same survey, 17 % of parents rated their child’s school toilets as ‘unclean’. Some say their child has reported seeing cockroaches and describing the toilets as covered in urine and other unhygienic matter. 

At Cr8tive Washrooms, we know how important clean, safe school toilets are for students. If your bathrooms are dirty and outdated, you could face a rise in student absenteeism and students not eating or drinking to avoid needing the toilet during the day. 

Those who do continue to eat and drink may avoid using the toilet even when they need it, leading to both mental and physical health issues.

Signs your school bathrooms need any update

It’s clear from this data that too many students are already struggling with what they describe as “horror movie” toilets. So, if you’re worried that your school may be guilty of neglecting the facilities, here are the signs that a washroom refurbishment project may be long overdue:

• Frequent complaints or incidents from students or their parents

• Persistent plumbing issues, flooding or overflowing toilets

• A lack of handwashing facilities, no soap or broken taps

• Outdated fixtures like worn-out cubicle doors, missing soap dispensers, damaged locks or broken flush mechanisms

• Dim lighting, bad smells, graffiti or a general sense of neglect

• Pest sightings, like flies, cockroaches or silverfish

Practical steps for improving your school washrooms

If you recognise that your school bathrooms need some TLC but are unsure where to start, here are some practical steps to tackle these issues and create safer spaces for your students that last for years to come.

Upgrade to durable, hygienic fixtures

Arrange for a complete washroom refurbishment project that includes anti-microbial fittings, touch-free taps and flush systems, motion-sensor soap dispensers and automatic lighting. This reduces the number of touchpoints throughout these spaces, making it harder for germs to build up and spread. 

We also recommended sealed, easy-clean surfaces with very few joins or gaps where germs, bacteria or mould could grow. 

Improve the lighting, layout and aesthetics of your bathrooms 

Consider brightening up these areas with LED lighting, ensuring proper ventilation to remove smells and refreshing the walls and ceilings with a lick of paint. You might also wish to change the layout to a more student-friendly option and upgrade your toilet cubicles to maximise privacy and comfort.

Get your timings right 

Although a refurbishment project could be hugely important, you want to minimise disruption to your students during the process. The best thing to do is arrange for the project to be undertaken during the school holidays or at a time that will cause the least disruption. 

This can help the team to complete the work seamlessly, without having to dodge students and means that your students won’t have their school day impacted by ongoing work. 

Plan for deep cleans and regular maintenance

Even the newest bathrooms require weekly deep cleaning and regular maintenance. By getting a schedule in place, you can improve the longevity of these spaces and ensure they are always clean and safe for students. Plus, you’ll be able to spot, report and fix any issues or broken fixtures as quickly as possible.  

Train your staff and bathroom users 

Ensuring that you employ the right cleaning services and empower your maintenance staff with ongoing training is the best way to ensure the cleanliness and longevity of your washrooms. 

And don’t forget about your students. There are schools in Germany that use student’ toilet monitors’ to incentivise students to use these spaces properly. 

The Cr8tive Washrooms approach

At Cr8 Washrooms, we specialise in crafting school washrooms that are durable, hygienic and welcoming. Our core services include washroom design and planning, project management and full washroom refurbishment. 

We put hygiene first, using materials that resist bacteria and are easy to clean. We also make sure these spaces are child-friendly, using rounded edges, anti-slip floors and cubicles that respect privacy and dignity.

So, don’t let your students suffer anymore; if it’s time to update your school washrooms, get in touch with our talented team today and get the process started right away.