Bottom of the Class

We launched the Initiative in May 2018 with the Bottom of the Class report, which revealed a serious and growing problem regarding the hygiene standards within the UK primary school system.

From inadequate toilet facilities that are unclean and poorly equipped, to poor hygiene habits of children coming to school unable to wipe their bottom properly or wash their hands correctly.

UK School Hygiene

What's the solution?

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1m hours

More than one million hours of primary school teaching time are spent helping children clean up properly after using the toilet in school per year.

£11m

£11m – The annual cost of the time spent by teachers cleaning up children after they’ve used the school toilets.

>50%

More than half of primary school teachers say children are losing vital education time because they’re wetting or soiling themselves in class. 45% say this leads to bullying.

59% of primary school teachers believe that improving school toilet hygiene would reduce illness amongst children and teachers.

42% of primary school teachers say children who avoid going to the toilet at school are unable to concentrate in class.

The Problem

The findings of the Bottom of the Class: Are falling hygiene standards failing primary school children? Report reveal three clear problems:

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Bottom of the Class

The Problem

Teachers, parents and children are concerned about poor levels of hygiene in primary school toilets and the impact this has on health.

Teachers believe children aren’t learning essential hygiene behaviours early enough.

Children are actively avoiding the toilets at school and are adopting unhealthy behaviours in order to do so.