[Video] Washroom vandalism, budgets and more discussed at the Schools and Academies show
We were proud to exhibit once again at the Schools & Academies Show, held this year at ExCeL London.
As one of the UK’s leading events for education leaders and estate professionals, the show offered a valuable opportunity to connect with school decision-makers, share knowledge, and discuss the future of school facilities—particularly washrooms, which remain a key area of concern and opportunity.
It was a fantastic day filled with meaningful conversations, expert-led talks, and plenty of enthusiasm about what’s possible when it comes to transforming school washrooms.
Watch our short video filmed live at the Schools & Academies Show to hear their reflections from the day and learn more about how we support schools just like yours.
Meeting school leaders face-to-face
Anthony Dunham, Director at Focus Washrooms, reflected on what made the day so valuable: “We’re here at the Schools and Academies Show at ExCeL. It’s been a very enthusing, busy day. We've met a lot of customers speaking to us about their washroom projects. It’s been very interesting to see the needs of customers today, because trends do change.”
One of the biggest takeaways was how open school leaders were about their current challenges and priorities. Topics like vandalism, budgets and health and safety came up time and time again—highlighting just how much pressure estates and operations teams are under to do more with less.
Anthony continued: “It's very interesting to see the needs of the customers today, because trends do change: safeguarding issues, health and safety, funding issues, of course, and also questions about what kind of layouts could we suggest.”
We had some fantastic conversations throughout the day and were encouraged by how many schools are actively thinking ahead about their washroom provision. These discussions are often the first step in helping schools plan smarter, future-proofed upgrades that support student wellbeing and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
Anthony summarised “We'll be picking up many surveys and consultation meetings with our customers following today, and really look forward to working with them.”
Insights from the Estates theatre
Alongside the conversations on our stand, we took time to attend a couple of presentations in the Estates Theatre. These sessions gave valuable insights into the broader challenges facing school estates and where washrooms sit within those priorities.
Florence, from the Focus Washrooms team, explained:
“We attended a couple of talks in the Estates Theatre—one about the best use of expenditure across the education estate, and another focused on school holiday projects. Obviously, a big topic as the holidays are coming up.”
The talks reinforced just how important it is to plan projects carefully, especially with limited windows for work to take place. Florence continued:
“We’re also experts in term-time projects. We can say that confidently because we've got over 27 years of experience in refurbishing washrooms.”
This ability to deliver during term time—while working around school operations—is something many of the school leaders we spoke to were particularly interested in. Not every project can be delayed until the holidays or fitted into half term, and our flexible, well-managed approach means schools can still move forward without major disruption.
Florence added: “If you’ve got any issues or challenges at your school washrooms, do get in contact. We’d love to talk to you and give you advice and guidance—on safeguarding, or if you’re even thinking about open-plan layouts. We’re here to help make your washrooms the best they can be for your pupils.”
Key themes
From our conversations with school business managers, estates teams, and headteachers, a few key themes stood out:
Safeguarding: Schools are increasingly interested in open-plan layouts that improve supervision and safety.
Anti-vandal: Many schools want vandal resistant washroom designs and tips on how to make their washrooms more durable and resistant.
Long-term value: Budget constraints remain top of mind, but schools are focused on finding durable, low-maintenance solutions that offer long-term savings.
We’re always happy to offer advice, guidance, and layout suggestions based on what works best for your specific setting.
Working with Focus Washrooms
If we met you at the show—thank you for stopping by. If we didn’t, and you’re exploring ways to improve your school’s washrooms, we’d love to talk. Whether you’re dealing with safeguarding concerns, looking for more hygienic or vandal-resistant solutions, or simply want to give your facilities a much-needed update, we’re here to help.
From consultation and budgeting through to design and installation, we offer a full turnkey service that takes the stress out of washroom refurbishments.
Get in touch
If you’d like to book a free site survey or have a question about how we can support your school or trust, please get in touch. We’re always happy to help you take the next step in your refurbishment journey.