School Toilet Cubicles: Design and Safeguarding

School toilet cubicles: design, safety and privacy

Short answer

School toilet cubicles should be compact laminate, sized for the age group, with finger-safe hinges, locks that staff can open from outside, and a layout that balances pupil privacy with safe supervision. Schools are exempt from Approved Document T; provision follows the School Premises Regulations and Department for Education guidance.

Junior school toilet cubicles with blue, yellow and green doors and low basins Illustrative image

Design by age group

Early years and infants: low cubicles and basins, often without locks or with staff-visible doors.
Juniors: lower cubicles with finger-safe hinges and indicator locks with emergency release.
Secondary: taller or full-height cubicles, with the washroom entrance and handwashing in view of a corridor for supervision.

Materials and hardware

Compact laminate with stainless steel hardware is the standard because it resists damage and heavy cleaning. Rounded corners and anti-pinch hinges protect small fingers.

Programming the work

Plan for the summer holiday. Survey in the spring term so materials are ready for the first week of the break.

Written by the Washroom Cubicles technical team. We design and install commercial washrooms across England, Scotland and Wales. Last reviewed 8 October 2026. Regulations change, so confirm requirements for your project with your building control body.

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Frequently asked questions

Do boys and girls need separate toilets at school?

In England, the School Premises Regulations 2012 require separate toilets for boys and girls aged 8 or over, except where a toilet is in a room for one pupil at a time that can be secured from inside. We plan layouts to the current regulations and Department for Education guidance.