UR TV CAST

Some choose not to use the school lavatories as a result, which can lead to constipation and other health problems. A new pressure group, pithily titled Bog Standard, is being launched next week to raise awareness of the damage, to children’s health and education, caused by poor school loos. It is campaigning for immediate improvements across the country. The campaign is driven, more than anything, by the views of pupils themselves.”Our school toilets are a complete disgrace,” says Anneka, 14, from Sheffield, one of the many students who responded to a national e-mail survey.

Missing locks, faulty taps, dirty mirrors and a lack of lavatory paper are just some of the things that Anneka complains about “I walk in, look around then back straight out,” she says. “I’d rather wait six hours till I get home!”There’s evidence, too, that loos get colonised by a school’s rough elements. Nicola, 14, from Manchester, says that she dreaded going to the lavatories. “They’re covered in graffiti, they stink and the smokers put their cigarettes down the toilet.”On the strength of this anecdotal evidence, Bog Standard sought more scientific backing for its campaign. School nurses were asked to look into conditions in more than 900 schools across the country Their reports confirmed the suspicions. Among the worst findings: 14 per cent of secondary schools had no seats in pupils’ loos; of those with seats, 35 percent were broken or insecurely fitted; 25 per cent of all schools had lavatory doors without locks; and 72 per cent had doors which allowed other pupils to peer over the top or under the bottom.

In addition, there were widespread instances of dirty floors, poor ventilation (and we all know what that means) and lack of loo paper, soap or hand towels.The nurses also discovered a surprising degree of ignorance among head teachers. “Some heads admitted that they had never stepped inside the lavatories before this survey,” explains Nickie Brander, campaign organiser for Bog Standard.To be launched officially at the House of Commons next Wednesday, the campaign has emerged from existing organisations concerned with children’s well-being. At the centre is a body called Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC), which has already campaigned successfully for more drinking-water fountains in schools. Also involved is School Councils UK, an umbrella organisation for pupil representative bodies, the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors Association, the British Toilet Association and MPs from the three main parties. Sponsorship is provided by Domestos.Central to the message is the argument that poor school loos have a detrimental impact on health and learning. At the mild end of these effects, are children who deliberately steer clear of unpleasant lavatories.