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Toilets in Education

There are Loo of the Year Awards and Entry Categories for all types of  Educational Establishments.

Educational establishments that enter Loo of the Year Awards know how important it is to provide toilets that meet the needs of their pupils, that are clean and well maintained, that are available to use at all times and they appreciate an independent assessment of their achievement. 

View images in our Gallery that demonstrate what a caring school can achieve in providing excellent facilities for their pupils.

Poor toilets have a negative impact on pupils and students who may avoid using the toilets because they are dirty, smelly, lack basic provisions, are not private enough, or because they are not allowed to go to the toilet when they need to. There are medical conditions that can be caused or exacerbated by the avoidance of, or limited access to, school toilets.

The provision of access to high quality toilet facilities is a key factor in education. It can have a positive influence on pupils’ willingness and ability to learn, their behaviour, morale and attendance levels.

In 2007 Loo of the Year Awards introduced the Changing Places Toilet Award to encourage toilet providers, including educational establishments, to provide special toilets to be used by people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as other serious impairments such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or an acquired brain injury, who often need extra facilities to allow them to use the toilets comfortably. The Changing Places National Awards and Trophy are sponsored by Clos-O-Mat.

In 2010 Loo of the Year Awards introduced the Toilets in Education Awards to provide an independent assessment of the toilets used by pupils and students from early years to primary schools and play centres to secondary schools, higher and adult education and special schools and recognise the very best entries in the Education sector. 

In 2015 a new Hygiene Room Award was introduced to assess the standard of Hygiene Rooms in schools and academies which must meet the minimum standards of Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 and may exceed this in order to meet local needs and achieve good practice standards. The best entries from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are recognised with National Awards and also be an Overall Award. The Hygiene Room Awards and Trophy are sponsored by Clos-O-Mat.

Access to well-designed and attractive toilets which suit the needs of all types of users of educational establishments should be a right and demonstrate respect for our younger generation. All entries receive an unannounced inspection visit from an experienced inspector and receive an Awards grading judged against 100 criteria. 

Loo of the Year Awards provides educational establishments with an inexpensive and valuable independent assessment of their pupil/student toilet provision and confirmation of their standard of provision. Many nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and even colleges and universities are criticised for having poor toilets. Loo of the Year Awards are the British Standard for all types of Away from home toilets and provide recognition and awards for the best.