6 Steps to reduce Anti Social Behaviour in School Washrooms

Washrooms and Toilet Blocks are traditionally trouble hotspots in schools and other educational establishments.

Students who are victims of bullying are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and even dropping out of school.

Bullying can also have an immediate effect on a student’s physical health, with victims often experiencing more regular headaches and stomach aches.

But there are steps you can take to make your School Washroom a safer place to visit.

Install Floor-to-Ceiling Washroom Cubicles

Floor-to-ceiling Cubicles prevent privacy from being compromised. Camera Phones cannot fit below or above floor-to-ceiling Toilet Cubicles. Cubicles should be large enough for one person, not two, to ensure the washroom design does not exacerbate the problem.

It is recommended that urinals be replaced with Toilet Cubicles to help prevent bullying and better prepare for unisex Washrooms.

Install CCTV

Your first instinct will be ‘you cannot install Cameras in a Washroom!’ but you can, provided the Toilet Cubicles are floor-to-ceiling, and Urinals are replaced by Cubicles.

CCTV is a great tool for preventing antisocial behaviour, and having CCTV recordings is extremely important after a bullying incident.

Remove the Entrance Door

Again, the first instinct will be ‘you cannot do that!’ but if floor-to-ceiling Cubicles are installed, there is no reason the Main Door to the Washroom cannot be removed, allowing Staff to make regular checks for loiterers.

Remove mirrors

Removing Mirrors from Washrooms not only prevents injury from broken glass but also encourages shorter toilet breaks.

It is a good idea to provide access to a mirror at Reception or a Medical Office for a pupil who needs one for medical reasons.

Non-concussive taps

Non-concussive taps work the same way as sensor taps: you just push the top to deliver a timed flow of water when activated, and the tap automatically shuts off the supply after a few seconds.

The automatic flow cut-off prevents students from blocking the plug hole and leaving the tap running, flooding the washroom!

Vape/Smoke alarms

Modern Vape Detectors help monitor and prevent vaping in school toilets and other shared spaces.

Vape units detect vape emissions in real time and send alerts directly to a mobile phone via an app.