Project overview
Notre Dame High School asked Focus Washrooms to refurbish two sets of washrooms at its St John’s and St Mary’s buildings.
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Rather than simply replacing old cubicles in the same large rooms, we helped the school take a different approach. Both areas were rebuilt as individual universal cubicles: self-contained, fully enclosed washrooms, each with its own door, toilet, basin and hand dryer, open to any pupil or member of staff.
Both refurbishments were completed over the summer holidays, so pupils returned to brand new washrooms in September.
The problem with the traditional school washroom
A large shared room filled with cubicles is the standard school layout, but it comes with well-known problems.
Privacy.
Pupils often avoid using the toilets at school because they feel exposed in a shared space. Sinks and mirrors in the same room as the cubicles add to that.Behaviour.
Big communal washrooms are hard to supervise. Pupils gather, and problems such as bullying, vaping or damage can go unseen.Hygiene.
Many pupils share the same taps, dryers and touchpoints at break and lunchtime, so germs spread and mess builds up.Cleaning and maintenance.
Large rooms with lots of fittings take longer to clean and are harder to keep on top of. One damaged fitting can put a whole washroom out of action.Inclusivity.
Separate boys’ and girls’ blocks do not suit every pupil, and they leave staff and accessible facilities tucked away elsewhere.
Our solution: individual universal cubicles
Each cubicle is a complete, private washroom of its own. A pupil goes in, closes the door and has everything they need in one place, including their own basin and hand dryer, so there is no shared wash area to walk through or queue at.
This approach solves the problems above in several ways.
Privacy for everyone.
Pupils are far more likely to use the washroom comfortably when no one else is in the room with them.Easier supervision.
Because the doors open onto an open shared space rather than into a closed room, staff can see who is coming and going.Less opportunity for misbehaviour.
With only one pupil in each cubicle at a time, there is nowhere for groups to gather out of sight.Better hygiene.
Every user has their own basin and dryer within the same space, so there are fewer shared surfaces and hands are washed before leaving the cubicle.One design for everyone.
The cubicles are universal, so there is no need for separate boys’ and girls’ areas and the layout suits every pupil.Simpler maintenance.
If a cubicle needs attention it can be closed off while the rest stay in use, rather than losing a whole washroom.
St John’s
Eight individual washrooms were created, including a dedicated accessible washroom with full Doc M facilities and a separate staff washroom.
St Mary’s
Six individual universal cubicles replaced the old boys’ and girls’ layouts, with former masonry walls removed and rebuilt to give a more efficient arrangement.
Built for school life
The new washrooms were designed around daily use by hundreds of pupils.
Hygienic wipe-clean walls and seamless flooring make cleaning quick and thorough
Fittings are hardwearing and concealed behind duct panelling to reduce the risk of damage
Sensor-operated hand dryers and push-button flushing limit the number of things pupils touch
Warm walnut doors and a calm, neutral palette make the spaces feel modern and welcoming
Delivered over the summer holidays
Both washroom refurbishments were carried out during the school summer holidays, so there was no disruption to lessons and no pupils on site while the work took place.
We managed every stage of the project, from strip-out and construction through to final finishes and handover, giving the school a single point of accountability. With the site empty of pupils, deliveries, waste removal and installation could be planned around the school’s access arrangements, and the new washrooms were ready for pupils returning in September.
The outcome
Notre Dame High School now has washrooms that pupils can use with confidence, that staff can supervise more easily and that the site team can keep clean without difficulty.
Planning a washroom refurbishment?
Whether upgrading a single facility or delivering a larger programme across multiple sites, we provide structured planning, dependable delivery and long-term value.
Submit your details today and we’ll get in touch with you to discuss.
Or, call our team on 01707 952 700