The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999

PART II school facilities

Washrooms for pupils

3.—(1) In every school there shall be facilities referred to in paragraphs (2) to (7) which are adequate having regard to the ages, sex and numbers of the pupils and any relevant special requirements they may have but never fewer than as set out in those paragraphs.

(2) In every school there shall be a washroom or washrooms for pupils which, taken together, contain a number of sanitary fittings which is as least equal to “the basic number” being—

(a) the aggregate of—

(i) 10% of the number of pupils at the school who have not attained the age of 5 years, and

(ii) 5% of the number of pupils at the school who have attained that age; or

(b) in the case of a special school, 10% of the number of pupils at the school,

in each case rounded up to the nearest whole even number.

(3) In considering for the purposes of paragraph (2) the washrooms in the school and the number of sanitary fittings contained therein, account may be taken of any washroom for use by any pupil which fulfils the conditions set out in regulation 4(3)(b) provided that, in the case of a school with both male and female pupils who have attained the age of 8 years, there are at least two other washrooms for pupils.

(4) (a) In a school at which the majority of the pupils have attained the age of 11 years—

(i) every washroom for pupils in which there is fewer than 3 sanitary fittings shall contain at least as many washbasins as there are sanitary fittings,

(ii) every other washroom for pupils shall contain a number of washbasins which is not less than two-thirds of the number of sanitary fittings.

(b) In any other school, in all the washrooms for pupils taken together, the number of washbasins shall not be less than the basic number of sanitary fittings calculated in accordance with paragraph (2).

(5) (a) Except as provided in regulation 4(3), washrooms for male and female pupils who have attained the age of 8 years shall be separate.

(b) In a washroom provided for male pupils and female pupils and in a washroom provided for female pupils only, all of the sanitary fittings shall be water closets.

(6) In the case of a school with pupils who have not attained the age of 5 years, at least one shower, bath or deep sink shall be provided for every 40 such pupils, the number of such pupils being rounded up to the nearest multiple of 40.

(7) Changing accommodation including showers shall be provided for pupils who have attained the age of 11 years and who are in receipt of physical education and that accommodation shall be readily accessible from the school grounds and from any accommodation provided for physical education within the school buildings.

Washrooms for staff

4.—(1) In every school there shall be a washroom or washrooms which are adequate for the number of staff at the school.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), washrooms for staff shall be separate from washrooms for pupils (but nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the same washrooms from being provided for staff and visitors.)

(3) (a) A washroom which fulfils the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (b) may be provided for use by any pupil, member of staff or visitor to the school.

(b) The conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (a) are that:

(i) the washroom makes provision (in so far as it is in the circumstances both practicable and reasonable) for the needs of persons using the premises who are disabled;

(ii) of the facilities referred to in paragraph (2) to (7) of regulation 3, the only ones provided in the washroom are one water closet and one washbasin with or without one shower or one deep sink; and

(iii) any door of the washroom is capable of being secured from the inside and opens directly onto a circulation space other than stairs.

Medical accommodation

5.—(1) In every school there shall be accommodation for—

(a) the medical or dental examination and treatment of pupils; and

(b) the care of sick or injured pupils.

(2) The accommodation provided in pursuance of this regulation shall contain a washbasin and be reasonably near a water closet.

(3) Account may be taken for the purposes of this regulation of accommodation (not being teaching accommodation) provided otherwise than for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (1) but which is both appropriate and readily available for those purposes, in particular, in the case of a boarding school, of sick room accommodation provided in pursuance of regulation 12.

Staff accommodation

6.—(1) In the case of—

(a) a nursery school;

(b) a special school; or

(c) any other school with more than 120 pupils, other than a pupil referral unit,

the school shall include a head teacher’s room.

(2) Every school, other than a pupil referral unit, shall include accommodation for use by the teachers at the school, for the purposes of work (otherwise than in teaching accommodation) and for social purposes.

Ancillary facilities

7.  The buildings provided for a school shall be adequate to permit the provision of appropriate ancillary facilities, in particular—

(a) for the storing and drying of pupils' outdoor clothing and for the storing of their other belongings; and

(b) for the preparation or serving of food and drinks and the washing of crockery and other utensils,

and to permit the safe and convenient passage of persons and movement of goods within the buildings.