The factsheet is sponsored by school toilet specialists Wallgate Limited, a Wiltshire-based company which makes highly damage resistant anti-vandal toilets. The people behind it say that Mums need to know how their child's school could "design out" bullying.
School toilets are recognised as a hotspot for bullies to threaten and intimidate others. Calls to the national charity Childline from young people being bullied increased by 12% last year.
The aim of the factsheet is to help teachers and governors to identify ways inwhich they can improve pupil safety by designing out bullying in school toilets. The author of the factsheet says Mums should be putting pressure on individual schools to make their school toilets even safer.
The launch of the document comes in response to a survey from the UK Youth Parliament, which showed 40% of pupils feared the behaviour of other students in school toilets.
It is launched to coincide with the 2008 NUT Conference at Manchester's International Convention Centre, which will take place during the Easter
break: 21st-25th March 2008.
Among the 28 top tips in the factsheet are:
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Follow the new "Toilets in Schools" guidelines issued by the Government agency "Partnerships for Schools";
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New toilet facilities should meet the minimum requirements of the "Bog Standard Campaign";
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Attractive, but highly durable anti-vandal sanitaryware should be used for all toilets and washrooms to reduce the long term financial impact of vandalism;
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School toilets should be arranged in small blocks and not in one large central unit;
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Toilets should not be put in at the end of dead-end corridors, but opposite classrooms and staff rooms to improve the way they are supervised;
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Visibility in toilets should be improved through the use of blurred glass cubicles;
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Hand-washing areas should be unisex and more visible from passing staff and prefects;
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When planning toilets, staff and pupils should be involved as much as possible.
Jean Donovan, Wallgate's Business Development Executive, commented:
"Bullying and anti social behaviour in toilets continues to cause headaches for pupils, parents, teachers and governors. We believe there is a lot more which could be done to "design out" bullying and vandalism.
"Over the years, Wallgate has worked with many schools, colleges and local education authorities with the installation of highly durable anti-vandal school toilets.
"This free factsheet is designed to bring together the specialist knowledge which we have developed and help schools to make the right decisions when planning new school toilets and washrooms. We hope Mums will get hold of a copy and ensure that their school follows up the tips."
The factsheet entitled: "Reducing the impact of bullying and anti-social behaviour in school toilets and washrooms," can be obtained by e-mailing Wallgate Limited at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
It is also available by writing to: "School Toilets" Factsheet, Wallgate Limited, Crow Lane, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 0HB, or by calling: 01388 718776
