Schools & Education

The contemporary school must be able to satisfy many disparate needs; the provision of basic educational facilities, the creation of an empowering learning environment and the establishment of a safe and nurturing space. School washrooms must be designed to meet these needs.

Research has vindicated the common sense belief that clean, safe and functioning school toilet facilities promote improved behaviour. Educational theory tells us that learning continues outside the classroom and that attitudes and beliefs are shaped by all aspects of the school, including physical ones. By providing welcoming toilets a school can communicate to its pupils that it has their welfare at heart.

This ethos is at the centre of the "Bog Standard" campaign. Launched in 2004 in partnership with Schools Council UK and backed by Westminster, it has three objectives; to promote the health benefits of good school toilets, to raise the standard of school toilets and to ensure minimum requirements in UK school toilet provision are met. Armitage Shanks, the primary sponsor of the campaign, has been a key supplier to schools since 1910. For almost
100 years it has worked with Local Authorities to advance performance of school washrooms. For further formation on the Bog Standard campaign, visit there website www.bog-standard.org.

The government?s ?Building Schools for the Future? programme represents the largest investment in school buildings for 50 years. Local Authorities now have the funds to improve their schools. Many are investigating how building design can improve welfare discipline and academic attainment.

Local Education Authorities are encouraged to save water and Armitage Shanks has developed products specifically for this purpose. Such environmentally friendly products must also be robust, durability is designed into the Armitage Shanks range of school products.

The result of working closely with leading architects in the field, this guide will illustrate practical layouts, inspirational ideas and cost effective solutions to providing a 21st Century washroom fit for our children.