The condition of school buildings

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 24 May 2023 Closed: 8 Mar 2024 Parliament page
In March 2022 the Public Accounts Committee reported on the risks to schools’ financial sustainability , including wide variations in the condition of individual schools and their funding. The school estate in England comprises some 22,000 schools, with the majority overseen by the responsible body in control of the school, … Read more
2 Recommendations
40 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
2 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 6 events
8 Mar
2024
Report published
26 Feb
2024
Correspondence
19 Nov
2023
Report published
19 Sep
2023
Correspondence
13 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
13 Jul
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
13 Jul 2023
View on parliament.uk
The condition of school buildings
Jane Balderstone · Department for Education Jane Cunliffe · Department for Education Susan Acland-Hood · The Department for Education
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The condition of school buildings HC 78 19 Nov 2023 42 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
10 Conclusion Not Addressed
Second Report - The condition of s…
Consider supporting local authorities to ensure high-quality places when reducing local school provision.
It is unclear whether decisions concerned with addressing the condition of the estate are coordinated with those relating to the need for school places. Historically, there have been instances of school closures just before another demographic wave of children that … Read more
Government Response
The government response addresses unrelated conclusions and recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee regarding the Health Transformation Programme and disability benefits, failing to address the recommendation concerning school places and estate management by the DfE.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
DfE significantly changed safety guidance for RAAC-affected schools in August 2023.
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we first took evidence from the Department for Education (DfE) about the condition of school buildings in England in July 2023.1 On 31 August 2023, DfE significantly changed … Read more
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
Teacher deaths from asbestos-related mesothelioma are rising, linked to historic exposure levels
We asked about the information DfE holds on the number of teaching staff who have died from asbestos-related conditions. DfE explained that the Health and Safety Executive reviews death certificates to produce data on the last known profession of people … Read more
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27 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
Nearly 6,000 temporary and mobile blocks included in the school estate building count
We asked DfE whether the 64,000 buildings on the school estate include temporary buildings, Portakabins and similar blocks. It replied that the first Condition Data Collection programme (CDC1), from which the total number of buildings was derived, did include such … Read more
HM Treasury
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28 Conclusion Not Addressed
Second Report - The condition of s…
Significant number of school building components in unsatisfactory condition (grades C and D)
DfE told us that its CDC1 programme involved giving a ‘grade’ to every building component within each school. There were four available grades, from A to D, with grades C and D denoting a less than satisfactory condition. DfE explained … Read more
Government Response
The government response provides statistics on the school estate's condition and states that CDC2 is underway to provide updated data, but does not address the committee's concerns about prioritisation decisions or the risk of considering only known issues.
HM Treasury
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35 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
External factors like inflation and supply chain issues significantly complicate project cost and timelines.
We have previously examined how external factors, such as inflation and higher price levels, can affect the cost schedule of projects and also the timeframes involved. We have seen how inflation can be largely driven by supply chain issues, meaning … Read more
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37 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
Many high-need schools failed to apply for rebuilding funds due to capacity or awareness issues.
DfE analysed the 1,000 schools with the highest level of need in terms of the condition of their buildings, and found that in 345 cases the responsible body did not make an application for the School Rebuilding Programme. In 2021, … Read more
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38 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
Direct funding for multi-academy trusts to dioceses could improve strategic estate management.
In its written submission, the Catholic Education Service argued that multi-academy trust funding for school buildings should be given directly to dioceses, to replicate the economies of scale and scope for longer-term strategic interventions that have been achieved with voluntary-aided … Read more
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39 Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of s…
Smaller local authorities currently lack specific DfE capital support for school estate management.
We noted that there is a diminishing number of schools under local authority control, and that, given their number of schools, 10 local authorities would not reach the threshold to receive maintenance and repair funding directly if they were a … Read more
HM Treasury
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41 Conclusion Not Addressed
Second Report - The condition of s…
DfE regional directors currently play limited role in local school closure decisions.
For maintained schools, the lead decision-maker about educational provision and the upkeep of buildings is the local authority, which retains responsibility for sufficiency of school places. DfE told us that its regional directors do not typically play a strong role … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates that local authorities have the statutory duty for school places and manage demand, with recent changes to Dedicated Schools Grant providing flexibility for falling rolls, but the response does not address DfE regional directors' roles or the exploration of alternative uses for school space.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 35 of 2 classified
Accepted 24
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 1
Total 2 recs + 40 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
26 Feb 2024 Correspondence from Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education, re The condition of school buildings, dated 16 February 2024
Parliament page
19 Sep 2023 Correspondence from Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education, re Condition of School Buildings, dated 7 September 2023
Parliament page