Bid to improve school loos

Dirty or inadequate school toilets mean that many pupils are resisting the call of nature, according to the British Cleaning Council (BCC).

Pupils may avoid using toilets if they aren’t sufficiently private, or because they fear bullies who loiter there.

As a result some children are avoiding having a drink which can lead to dehydration and kidney problems. Others are having "accidents" because they don't want to have to use the toilet.

The ‘Bog Standard’ campaign has been launched to raise standards of school toilets.

“It’s been brought to our attention that clean, safe, equipped and accessible toilets are becoming high on children`s wish lists - but many UK schools are failing to provide this, said Steve Wright, Chairman of the BCC.

“Children are just as entitled as adults to clean toilet facilities; poor hygiene in loos can lead to increased infections such as bacterial diarrhoea and Hepatitis A.”

Head fined over 3-year-old's death

A HEADTEACHER has been fined £20,000 after a three-year-old boy died as a result of falling from playground steps whilst pretending to be Batman. Just one member of staff was supervising 59 pupils between the ages of three and eleven on the day of the incident.

James Porter, headteacher and owner of Hillgrove private school in Bangor, Gwynedd, was found by Mold Crown Court to have breached health and safety laws by failing to provide adequate supervision and allowing access to the steps.

Kian Williams, from Bethesda, was described by teachers as ‘lively and energetic’, and had fallen after jumping from four steps in an out of bounds area.

He suffered brain swelling and died from MRSA infection in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in August 2004.

Porter had run the school for 30 years with an ‘exemplary safety record’ but was found responsible for the tragedy and ordered to pay £12,000 in fines and prosecution costs of £7,500.