Circular number 10/96

Part II - School Facilities



Facilities for Pupils

Washrooms
Changing accommodation


Facilities for Staff

General information - health and safety legislation
Staff washrooms
Washrooms for disabled pupils, staff and visitors
Headteacher's room
Other staff accommodation

Other Facilities

Medical accommodation
Other miscellaneous facilities - safe movement of people and goods, clothing storage and drying, food preparation


Pupils' washrooms - water closets and urinals

  1. School washrooms should have, in total, at least the "basic number" of sanitary fittings. The basic number is 5% of the number of pupils in a school who are 5 years old or over plus 10% of the number of pupils who are under 5 (see paragraph 13 above). In all special schools the basic number is 10% of the number of pupils, whatever their ages. Sanitary fittings are water closets or, in some circumstances, urinals (see paragraph 20 below). In all cases the final result of calculations should be rounded up to the nearest whole, even number.

  2. Sometimes, the basic number of facilities may not be sufficient. The Regulations say that washroom facilities must be adequate having regard not only to the ages, sex and numbers of pupils, but also to any special requirements they may have.



Pupils' washrooms - washbasins and sinks

  1. The minimum number of washbasins depends on several factors, including the number and ages of pupils at the school.

For schools where most pupils are under 11 (Y6 and below)

  • there should be at least as many washbasins as the basic number of sanitary fittings (see paragraph 15 above);

For schools where most pupils are 11 or older (Y7 and above)

  • washrooms with one sanitary fitting should contain at least one washbasin and washrooms with two sanitary fittings should contain at least two washbasins.

  • in all other washrooms the number of washbasins should be at least two thirds of the number of sanitary fittings.



Separate washrooms for male and female pupils

  1. Schools should have separate washrooms for male and female pupils of 8 years (Y4) and older. Exceptions may be made for facilities for disabled users: see paragraphs 26-28 below.

  2. In mixed washrooms for male and female pupils under 8 years (below Y4), and all washrooms which are solely for female pupils, the sanitary fittings should all be water closets.

  3. In washrooms which are solely for male pupils, the sanitary fittings may include urinals. The Regulations do not specify the balance between urinals and water closets. As a guide, we suggest that at least one third of all the sanitary fittings available to male pupils should be water closets.



Special facilities for very young pupils

  1. Nursery schools and other schools which have pupils under 5 years old should have one deep sink, shower or bath for washing pupils for every 40 such pupils, the number of such pupils being rounded up to the nearest multiple of 40. For example, a school with 50 pupils aged under 5 in nursery classes needs at least two items from the list.



Changing accommodation

  1. Schools must have accessible changing accommodation, which should include showers, for pupils of 11 years and older (Y7 and above) who take part in physical education. LEAs and governors may provide such changing accommodation for younger pupils as they feel is appropriate.



Facilities for staff - general

  1. As well as the School Premises Regulations, some workplace health and safety regulations are relevant to premises standards - especially those affecting school staff. Regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 apply to schools. LEAs and governors should be aware of the provisions of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (SI 1992 No 3004), and the Approved Code of Practice (known as ACoP) associated with them.
  • The Health and Safety Commission leaflet "Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: Guidance for the Education Sector" explains the key issues of relevance to LEAs and school governors.



Staff washrooms

  1. Staff washrooms must be adequate for the number of staff. Although the School Premises Regulations do not specify the number of staff washrooms in a school, the Approved Code of Practice (see paragraph 23) does set out appropriate levels of sanitary provision for employees, and of other facilities, such as showers, for those whose work is dirty or strenuous.

  2. Staff washrooms must be separate from pupils' washrooms, except certain washrooms for disabled users - see paragraphs 26-28 below.



Washrooms for disabled pupils, staff and visitors

  1. A school must provide washroom facilities adequate to meet any special requirements of disabled pupils.

  2. These facilities may include a separate washroom, suitable for access by disabled people, which can be used by anyone among pupils, staff and visitors. A single washroom which meets the criteria set out below will be exempt from the requirement that staff and pupils' washroom facilities must be separate from each other. This is intended to help schools, particularly those with limited space, to make provision for disabled users.

  3. To be exempt, a washroom should make provision for disabled users of the school premises and have:
    • one water closet as its only sanitary fitting;

    • one washbasin; and

    • a door which can be secured from the inside, and which opens directly onto a circulation space, i.e. a passageway, corridor, entrance hall or upstairs landing, but not stairs.

    A washroom as described above counts towards the total number of sanitary fittings that a school must provide for pupils. However, if the school has male and female pupils aged 8 years or above (Y4 and above), there must be at least two other pupils' washrooms in addition.



Medical accommodation

  1. Every school should have accommodation for medical or dental examination and treatment, and for the care of pupils during school hours. Such accommodation must contain a washbasin and be reasonably near a water closet. It need not be used solely as medical accommodation, but even if it is not, it should be appropriate for that purpose and readily available for use as such when needed. There are special rules about medical accommodation in boarding schools - see paragraphs 47-48 below.



Staff accommodation

Headteacher's room

  1. Every school with more than 120 pupils, and every nursery school and special school of whatever size, must have a headteacher's room. The Regulations do not prevent other schools from having headteachers' rooms: this is a matter for LEAs and governing bodies to decide.

Other staff accommodation

  1. Every school must have accommodation for teachers to use for work and for social purposes. This regulation does not, however, apply to pupil referral units. Staff accommodation in pupil referral units is a matter for LEAs.



Miscellaneous other facilities

  1. School buildings must also be adequate for other facilities to be provided. Those specified in the regulations are: facilities for safe and convenient passage of people and movement of goods; facilities for storing and drying outdoor clothing and storing pupils' other belongings, and facilities for preparing food and drink and washing crockery and other utensils. This last includes simply serving items which were made or cooked somewhere else.