The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

England’s School Buildings are a ‘Risk to Life’ Says Government Leak

England’s School Buildings are a ‘Risk to Life’ Says Government Leak
16 May 2022
 

According to documents leaked to The Observer newspaper, deteriorating school buildings in England are a “risk to life.”

The leaked emails are from officials working for the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, as part of a weekly update to Downing Street from the Department for Education (DfE).

The leak states that: “School buildings: the deteriorating condition of the school estate continues to be a risk, with condition funding flat for FY [financial year] 2022-23, some sites a risk-to-life, too many costly and energy-inefficient repairs rather than rebuilds, and rebuild demand x3 supply.”

The Observer article also reports that this is the second time DfE officials have raised this issue.

 

A 2019 report from The Guardian suggested that 17 per cent (3,731) of schools were found to have buildings with roofs, walls or windows, in need of immediate repair.

In a statement given to The Observer, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union said:

“All children deserve to learn in high quality, safe and comfortable buildings. But in 2022-23, capital funding is £1.9 billon less per year in real terms than it was in the last years of the Labour government. If the government had not cut Labour’s school rebuilding programme, £27 billon more would have been spent on school and college buildings. So, while any money spent on school buildings is welcome, the scale needs to be judged against what has been cut, which is 50 times larger.

“The challenges that need to be addressed are huge. And whether the issue to be addressed is potentially dangerous roofing, retrofitting for energy efficiency and to help meet climate obligations, or basic repairs, the challenge is made all the greater by the presence of asbestos in so many school buildings. The government needs to show much more ambition and urgently address these issues in a strategic way.”

 

The School Rebuilding Programme

 

The School Rebuilding Programme plans to refurbish education buildings in priority order according to their condition. The first 50 schools to join the programme were announced in February 2021, and a further 50 in July 2021.

From 2022 to 2023, the programme expects to prioritise up to 300 schools, reserving the remaining places for later in the programme.

A 2019 report from The Guardian suggested that 17 per cent (3,731) of schools were found to have buildings with roofs, walls or windows, in need of immediate repair.

Of the 21,796 schools researched, 1,313 had elements that were graded D, defined as “life expired and/or serious risk of imminent failure”.

Picture: a photograph of desks and chairs in a school room setting. Image Credit: Unsplash

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 16 May 2022

Share



Related Articles

239 Schools to be Renovated in Government Rebuilding Programme

The Department for Education has added more sites to its ten-year programme of renovation projects for schools and sixth forms in England. Buildings will be...

 Read Full Article
Leicestershire’s First Net-Zero Carbon School

Leicestershire County Council has appointed Willmott Dixon to build its first net-zero in-operation school. The new £8.5 million 210-place primary school is...

 Read Full Article
Inside Milton Keynes' First Fossil Fuel Free School

Take a look inside Glebe Farm School in the parish of Wavendon in Milton Keynes – a completely gas-free site. On a site larger than 13 football pitches, the...

 Read Full Article
SSE Energy Solutions Decarbonise Welsh Schools

14 schools are closer to achieving net-zero at the end of the first phase of an ambitious county-wide decarbonisation initiative delivered by SSE Energy Solutions in...

 Read Full Article
ABM Further Nurtures Next-Gen FM

Leading facilities solutions provider ABM has opened its doors to the fifth cohort to take part in its Junior Engineering Engagement Programme (J.E.E.P.), with an...

 Read Full Article
72% of Teachers Feel Classroom Air Quality is 'Below Standard'

As autumn term begins for UK school children, indoor air quality in educational facilities is under the spotlight thanks to new survey data.   Air Quality in...

 Read Full Article
Julius Rutherfoord Retains £30m of London Cleaning Contracts

Julius Rutherfoord has retained £30 million worth of education cleaning contracts, including a contract extension at City, University of London. The retentions...

 Read Full Article
High Performing Buildings – July’s Roundup

This month’s roundup includes the first ever WELL Gold certified high school in the USA, the first new build west end theatre in 50 years and the world’s most...

 Read Full Article
Education is Crucial for Asbestos Management in Schools

SOCOTEC is highlighting the risk of asbestos exposure in UK schools, and what the FMs should be doing about it.  One of the main issues with regards...

 Read Full Article
High Performing Buildings – February’s Roundup

TWinFM’s February high performing buildings roundup explores building excellence across German cities.   Watch the...

 Read Full Article