According to the National Audit Office (NAO), around 700,000 pupils are in danger due to poor school conditions in England
There are 21,600 state schools in England, educating 8.4 million students. There are 64,000 buildings across the schools, varying in age and design. The National Audit Office says the condition of schools in England is declining, and there are safety concerns about many of the buildings.
The condition of schools in England comes under the responsibility of the Department for Education (DfE). The DfE is in charge of policy and statutory framework and accountability for securing value for the money needed to fund state schools. The DfE distributes funding to local authorities, academy trusts and voluntary-aided bodies.
School conditions in England will continue to decline
In 2017, NAO reported the quality of the county’s worst school buildings was slowly improving. However, they also found the overall condition of schools in England is expected to worsen.
NAO determined that to provide cost-effective outcomes, the DfE needs to make better use of its capital funding and utilise data to make decisions on funding allocation.
After many years of underfunding, the condition of schools in England has deteriorated to the point where approximately 700,000 students attend schools that DfE deems to require major rebuilding or refurbishment. The DfE has acknowledged substantial safety concerns throughout English schools and has raised these issues to the government risk register.
Steve McGregor is the group managing director at DMA Group, a property maintenance specialist that works across the education space.
He said: “We’ve increasingly encountered some management teams in the education space looking to source cheaper parts themselves off the internet. It’s an understandable tactic because parts can often appear less expensive online.”
“The senior leadership teams across schools have shouldered immense, yet routine pressures in trying to reconcile the financial and operational challenges of delivering education in a cost-down environment. Compounded by the unprecedented cost-of-living and energy cost crisis, these establishments are scrambling by cutting costs wherever possible, to the detriment of their buildings,” he continued.
What is being done to improve schools in England?
Although progress has been made in the last year, the DfE reportedly lacks information on the extent and severity of these safety issues that would allow them to develop a long-term improvement plan.
The DfE has made efforts to improve its understanding of school infrastructure in England. Funds will be allocated based on accurate estimates, prioritising those schools in the worst condition.
However, there is still a significant disparity between the available funding and the amount needed to ensure safe and well-maintained school buildings for students and staff. Moreover, funding often ends up being used for urgent repairs rather than planned maintenance. This is something that the DfE accepts hinders the repair process of schools in England.
