School Estate Management Failures

Failures in maintaining school buildings and estates to required standards, often due to insufficient guidance, training, or funding.

291 items 7 sources 2 inquiries

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Where this theme appears

School Estate Management Failures has been flagged across 7 independent accountability sources:

4 inquiry recs 2 PFD reports 115 committee recs 3 NAO recs 1 IMB report 57 IMB recs 109 LGO/SPSO decisions

When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.

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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.

Inquiry Recommendations (4)

SP21 — School monitoring and filtering systems guidance

Southport Inquiry

Recommendation: The Department for Education should review and strengthen its guidance to schools on monitoring and filtering systems, including ensuring that the systems used are appropriate and adequate from a technical perspective. The department should ensure schools understand these requirements and …

Response Pending

SP11 — Out-of-school settings guidance update

Southport Inquiry

Recommendation: The Department for Education should update the out‑of‑school settings guidance by reviewing the health and safety section to ensure terminology is clear and consistent, particularly regarding emergency plans and fire/evacuation plans for smaller providers. The guidance should also be updated …

Response Pending

DUNB-26 — Extend violence guidance to encompass safety of entire school population

Dunblane Inquiry

Recommendation: It is desirable that the guidance provided by the Education Service Advisory Committee in regard to violence to staff in the education sector should be extended to encompass the safety and protection of the school population as a whole (para …

DUNB-25 — Prepare school safety strategy and action plan protecting against violence

Dunblane Inquiry

Recommendation: Those who have the legal responsibility for the health and safety of the teaching staff and pupils at school should prepare a safety strategy for the protection of the school population against violence, together with an action plan for implementing …

PFD Reports (2)

22 Feb 2017 · South Wales Central

Concerns: Poor design of the school service road and bus bay, coupled with insufficient staff supervision, created a highly dangerous situation for children crossing the road, stemming from a lack of accountability in the school's construction.

Response (Ashley Talbot): The bus bay has been extended to accommodate seven buses, and the school site is now subject to a lockdown, with no vehicles allowed to enter or move around the …

Response (Maesteg School): The bus bay has been extended, a school lockdown occurs during bus loading, staff supervision has increased, a speed limit is in place, and a vehicle drop-off point has been …

12 May 2017 · Inner North London

Concerns: A school nurse's inadequate medication review process included using an incorrect allergy action plan, not verifying medication in school, and failing to ensure updated, in-date medication.

Response (Bow School): Bow School is improving medication management systems, ensuring robust monitoring, and supporting staff to provide effective interventions; the school will brief staff on medical policies and procedures (repeated September 2017), …

Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health will not pursue making generic adrenaline auto-injectors available in public places due to safety concerns raised by the MHRA, but they are amending regulations to allow …

Response (London Ambulance Service NHS Trust): The London Ambulance Service (LAS) disputes the coroner's concern, stating that the Clinical Hub paramedic did not advise against using the EpiPen and that the call was appropriately managed and …

Response (Compass Wellbeing): Compass Wellbeing has undertaken an internal investigation, reinforced accurate record keeping, provided medico-legal training on documentation, reviewed and reran training on their Competency Framework, and is implementing an electronic diary …

Response (British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology): BSACI has produced national guidelines for managing various allergies, promotes written personalized emergency management plans, and has been part of a campaign to allow schools to hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors, …

Response (Barts Health NHS Trust): Barts Health NHS Trust will implement an action plan, work with partners on the Asthma Friendly Schools Project, promote the Healthy London Partnership Paediatric asthma toolkit, improve knowledge of long-term …

Response (St Andrews Health Centre): The practice discussed the case as a team, reviewed individual consultations, contacted the pharmacy, and contacted the safeguarding team and hospital respiratory team for learning; the nursing team will now …

Committee Recommendations (115) — showing 50 strongest matches

#3 — Publish Long-term Housing Strategy for improving social homes and regenerating existing stock.

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Recommendation: The Long-term Housing Strategy must put in place a long-term approach for improving and maintaining social homes and addressing the systemic drivers of poor housing quality, especially a long-term approach to the regeneration of existing social homes. We reiterate our …

Gov response: 14. In July 2025, the government published a five-step plan to kickstart adecade of social and affordable housing renewal. This includes a new 10-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme – the biggest boost …

#2 — Government social housing plans do not address systemic drivers of poor conditions.

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Recommendation: We support the Government’s plans to raise the standard of social homes over the next decade, while boosting supply. These actions will go some way to improving the quality and safety of social homes. However, the Government’s plans do not …

Gov response: 12. Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law came into force on 27 October 2025, specifying that social landlords must address damp and mould hazards within fixed timescales, and all emergency hazards within 24 hours. We are …

#1 — Progress on social homes meeting Decent Homes Standard has stalled since pandemic.

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Recommendation: Most social homes provide tenants with warm, safe and decent places to live. The prevalence of poor conditions across the sector is generally lower than in other tenures. However, progress at bringing all social homes up to a minimum standard …

Gov response: 7. We will set out wider plans for housing in the Long-Term Housing Strategy, which we will publish shortly. It will bring together many of the changes that we have already announced, including our 5-step …

Under Consideration

#15 — Establish a long-term programme to replace or modernise high-risk system-built school blocks.

Education Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government establish a long-term programme to replace or modernise system-built blocks most at risk, aligning investment with safety priorities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)

Gov response: Recommendation: Partially accepted The Education Estates Strategy, set out a long-term plan for the education estate. At its core is more proactive management, long-term strategic maintenance and renewal that prioritises condition need, risk and resilience …

Partially Accepted

#14 — Release full system-build research results and set clear actions based on those findings promptly.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The DfE should release the full results of its system-build research as soon as they are available and no later than its own timescale of Spring 2026, and set out clear actions based on those findings. (Recommendation, Paragraph 58)

Gov response: Recommendation: Partially accepted The department is committed to publishing findings from the Older Buildings Research. We anticipate receiving technical findings in Spring 2026 and will assess how these can support delivery of the Education Estates …

Partially Accepted

#13 — Ageing system-build schools pose hidden risks without deeper structural surveys and enriched information.

Education Committee

Recommendation: System-build schools are a legacy of a different era: built fast, with limited design life, and now ageing under conditions they were never intended to endure. While we welcome the DfE’s proactive research and its early indications of no widespread …

Gov response: Recommendation: Partially accepted The department is committed to publishing findings from the Older Buildings Research. We anticipate receiving technical findings in Spring 2026 and will assess how these can support delivery of the Education Estates …

Partially Accepted

#12 — Maintain and publish accurate, up-to-date data on the school estate's condition and progress.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The Government must maintain and publish accurate, up-to-date data on the condition of the school estate, including progress against remediation and rebuild targets, to build public confidence and accountability. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52) 19

Gov response: Recommendation: Accept The Education Estates Strategy sets out how the government will go further on data and digital transformation to enable responsible bodies to use data and digital services to manage their estate effectively, and …

#11 — Provide targeted guidance, training, and funding for all responsible bodies to meet estate management standards.

Education Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the DfE provide targeted guidance, training, and funding to ensure all responsible bodies, particularly smaller Multi- Academy Trusts, can meet estate management standards effectively. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)

Gov response: Recommendation: Accept Effective and proactive estate management is key to maintaining a high-quality estate and preventing issues materialising that can disrupt education. To support responsible bodies to manage their estates well we will set clear …

#10 — Publish and implement the promised estate strategy to reduce maintenance backlog and replace school buildings.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The Government should publish and implement its promised estate strategy without delay, setting clear milestones for reducing the maintenance backlog and replacing life-expired buildings. (Recommendation, Paragraph 50)

Gov response: Recommendation: Accept (already implemented) On 11 February 2026 the Government published the Education Estates Strategy: a decade of national renewal. At the core of the education estates strategy is a shift to more proactive management, …

#9 — Shift funding from short-term repairs to comprehensive upgrades and rebuilds for high-risk schools.

Education Committee

Recommendation: Funding should move beyond short-term patching and repairs toward comprehensive upgrades and rebuilds, prioritising schools beyond their design life and those posing the greatest safety risks. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49)

Gov response: The Education Estates Strategy, set out a long-term plan for the education estate. At its core is more proactive management, long-term strategic maintenance and renewal that prioritises condition need, risk and resilience alongside delivering high-quality …

#8 — RAAC crisis highlights ageing, fragile school estate requiring more than incremental fixes.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The RAAC crisis highlighted a deeper, systemic issue: the ageing and fragile condition of England’s school estate. RAAC is not the only issue of concern within the wider school estate. While we welcome the Government’s commitment to publish a long-term …

Gov response: The Government welcomes the Education Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2024–26, Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings (HC 1399), and thanks the Committee for its thorough examination of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete …

Response Pending

#7 — Commission a national digital register of asbestos in education estate with annual compliance reporting.

Education Committee

Recommendation: We further recommend the Government commission a national digital register of asbestos in the education estate and annual reporting on HSE compliance and asbestos removal achieved through capital programmes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Wider concerns about the condition and maintenance of …

Gov response: Recommendation: Do not accept The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is continuing its work to deliver on the accepted recommendations of the 2022 Work and Pensions Select Committee report into HSE’s approach to asbestos management. …

#6 — Require all school bodies to undertake structured surveys and risk assessments of higher-risk buildings.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The DfE should require all responsible bodies managing potentially problematic structures within the school estate to undertake a structured survey and risk assessment of higher-risk building types at least every three to five years. (Recommendation, Paragraph 39)

Gov response: Recommendation: Partially accepted The most significant factor affecting the condition of school buildings is their maintenance history. The department is taking steps to address known issues in buildings using Intergrid or Laingspan construction or that …

Partially Accepted

#5 — DfE made advances in RAAC response, but sustained implementation is still required.

Education Committee

Recommendation: We recognise the substantial efforts undertaken since 2023 to safeguard pupils and staff, and to restore continuity of learning in settings affected by RAAC. The Department has improved guidance, begun to professionalise 18 estate capability, strengthened resilience arrangements, and committed …

Gov response: The Government welcomes the Education Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2024–26, Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings (HC 1399), and thanks the Committee for its thorough examination of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete …

Response Pending

#3 — RAAC remediation caused stress and learning disruption; temporary fixes are inadequate.

Education Committee

Recommendation: However, the process has not been without cost. For school leaders, teachers, and above all pupils, the experience has been stressful and has affected learning and well-being. In those schools where RAAC remains an ongoing issue, temporary solutions cannot substitute …

Gov response: The Government welcomes the Education Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2024–26, Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings (HC 1399), and thanks the Committee for its thorough examination of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete …

Response Pending

#1 — RAAC emergency reveals chronic capital investment deficit across the school estate.

Education Committee

Recommendation: Taken together, the RAAC emergency represents more than an isolated safety risk, it is symptomatic of a chronic capital investment deficit. Restoring resilience to the school estate requires sustained, strategic investment, a clear commitment to long-term infrastructure renewal and recognition …

Gov response: The Government welcomes the Education Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2024–26, Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings (HC 1399), and thanks the Committee for its thorough examination of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete …

Response Pending

#24 — Overseas posts face inadequate capacity and skills for proper estate maintenance.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Posts not covered by regional facilities management contracts have to use in-house staff or local contractors.65 While larger posts can have dedicated estate managers and estates teams, smaller posts may not have estates specialists on site.66 FCDO’s recent ‘FMR24’ exercise …

Gov response: 6. PAC conclusion: FCDO’s ability to manage its estate is hampered by a lack of staff with the necessary skills and experience. 6. PAC recommendation: FCDO should complete its estate workforce strategy, which should set …

#14 — Posts routinely fail to monitor and maintain properties, prioritising reactive over preventative maintenance.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Posts have responsibility for maintaining their estates. This is funded through budgets allocated to posts by FCDO’s geographic directorates.36 The Head of Mission in each post—the Ambassador or High Commissioner— has the discretion to decide, within the broad budget areas …

Gov response: FCDO’s overseas posts are responsible for managing their own operations, including their estates. Within FCDO, the Estates, Security and Network Directorate (ESND) supports posts to manage their estate by setting corporate standards, providing guidance and …

Under Consideration

#3 — Implement FCDO's improved estate governance model, establishing a new board and publishing a maintenance strategy.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: FCDO’s central estate function does not have adequate oversight of estate activities, both at overseas posts and across its project portfolio. Eighty-four percent of overseas posts have responsibility for maintaining their own estate, either through in-house teams or local contractors, …

Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. established a new Estates Committee in October 2025, which will review strategically the operations and investments in the FCDO’s overseas and UK estates. The Estates Committee will meet …

#2 — Ensure FCDO overseas estate achieves sustainable footing with detailed backlog reduction plans

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Much of FCDO’s overseas estate is in poor condition, and its estates maintenance backlog would cost an estimated £450 million to resolve. FCDO’s first priority with its overseas estate is providing a safe and legally compliant estate for staff and …

Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation.

Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government reinstate support for opening school sports facilities to communities, but that it do so through a long‑term, place‑based funding model, learning lessons from the experience of the Opening School Facilities Fund. The new programme should …

Response Pending

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The Department launched the Asbestos Management Assurance Process (AMAP) in March 2018 to better understand how well asbestos is managed across all schools.51 When we examined academy schools’ finances in March 2018, we were concerned that the Department did not …

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The Department has estimated that the land and buildings within the academy estate is worth £56.3 billion at 31 August 2020.43 We asked the Department about its understanding of the academy estate and any concerns it had about its condition. …

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: We continue to be concerned about the Department’s understanding of asbestos within the school estate. Asbestos is a significant, and potentially dangerous, problem in many schools. We have previously found that the Department did not have a complete picture of …

Gov response: 5. PAC conclusion: Waiting times for elective and cancer treatment are too dependent on where people live and there is no national plan to address this postcode lottery.

Under Consideration

#33 — School Rebuilding Programme severely behind schedule on contracts awarded and projects completed.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE announced the School Rebuilding Programme in June 2020. As at March 2023, it had awarded 24 contracts, well below its August 2021 forecast of 83, with one project completed compared with its forecast of four. In addition, DfE was …

Gov response: 8.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2024 8.2 There are now over 500 schools in the School Rebuilding Programme, including schools with RAAC that need rebuilding projects. The department …

#32 — New and refurbished schools continue to lack sprinkler systems despite safety expectations

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: In written evidence, the London Fire Brigade expressed concern that many schools are continuing to be built, or are undergoing major refurbishment, without automatic fire suppression systems (such as sprinklers), contrary to the ‘expectation’ set out in Building Bulletin 100: …

Gov response: 7.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2024 7.7 The department continues to engage with the Government Actuary Department to review Home Office Data on fires in education buildings and …

#31 — Funding constraints prevent rebuilding non-hazardous schools, despite better long-term value for money

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: We asked DfE about longer-term risks to value for money. It described a set of schools that pose no safety risks and can be maintained to a reasonable condition. However, when considering the work needed to keep these schools in …

Gov response: 7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: February 2025 7.2 The department expects responsible bodies to maintain their estates in a safe condition, compliant with relevant regulations, and to plan management …

#30 — HM Treasury funds significantly fewer school rebuilds than DfE recommended annually

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: In its Spending Review 2020 case, DfE recommended capital funding for the major rebuilding and refurbishment of around 200 schools each year. HM Treasury subsequently agreed to fund a 10-year programme to rebuild 50 schools per year, at an average …

Gov response: 6.6 The department robustly assessed the nominations and selected schools with the greatest need. All nominations for schools with evidence of exceptional need, such as structural issues, verified by the department against the programme criteria, …

#29 — DfE prioritises immediate action and funding for urgent school building safety issues

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE told us that its overarching principle is to act immediately if a building-related issue is putting pupils or teachers in danger but the school is unable to manage the issue itself. The issue might relate to asbestos, or more …

Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 All pupils must learn in safe buildings. The responsibility for keeping school buildings safe and compliant with relevant regulations lies with schools and their …

#26 — 700,000 pupils learning in schools requiring major rebuilding, but only 500 will be addressed

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Around 700,000 pupils are learning in a school which the responsible body or DfE believes requires major rebuilding or refurbishment, given safety issues or poor general building condition (which might mean problems with a combination of items, such as roofs, …

Gov response: 6.5 The figure of 700,000 pupils in buildings that may require replacement stated by the National Audit Office (NAO) is often misinterpreted as it is based on the total number of pupils in schools nominated …

#24 — Teacher deaths from asbestos-related mesothelioma are rising, linked to historic exposure levels

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: 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 …

#23 — DfE policy for asbestos management in schools risks hidden dangers during RAAC works

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE confirmed that its policy is not to remove all asbestos in the school estate, as this would be expensive and dangerous. However, we raised with DfE a case where a school thought it knew where it had asbestos, but …

Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 5.2 The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously – which is why it expects …

#22 — Asbestos risk higher in schools due to shared occupancy; oversight concerns raised

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: In its written submission, NAHT (the school leadership union) emphasised that shared occupancy of school buildings by adults and young people can lead to a higher risk of asbestos disturbance than in other workplaces, and that even normal school activities …

Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 5.2 The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously – which is why it expects …

#21 — DfE remains unsighted on asbestos status in 4.4% of schools nationwide

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE told us that its second Condition Data Collection programme (CDC2), which had covered around 40% of schools so far, allowed it to prioritise schools that had not responded to the asbestos survey. As a result, DfE remained unsighted on …

Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 5.2 The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously – which is why it expects …

#20 — DfE previously agreed to urgently chase non-responsive schools on asbestos survey

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: In March 2022, we noted that we had previously found DfE did not have a complete picture of asbestos in school buildings, or enough information to ensure that the risks were being properly managed. We concluded that DfE appeared unconcerned …

Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 5.2 The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously – which is why it expects …

#19 — DfE expects RAAC issues to resolve within weeks, with variable timeframes for complex cases

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: We asked DfE about when all RAAC-related issues on the school estate might be resolved, given that members of the government had talked in early September about the timeframe being a matter of weeks. DfE expressed confidence that it would …

Gov response: 2.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.7 There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England and the vast majority are unaffected by RAAC. 2.8 All responsible bodies for schools and …

#18 — Number of RAAC-affected educational settings continues to increase across the estate

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: On 19 September, the Secretary of State issued an updated statement on RAAC. It detailed that: DfE had received questionnaire responses in relation to 98.6% of schools with blocks built in the target era; every school that was awaiting a …

Gov response: 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The department will write to the Committee alongside publication of the Treasury Minute.

#17 — DfE lacks specific figures on RAAC impact, hindering timely public transparency

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: We asked DfE some questions intended to shed light on the latest position with RAAC at the time of our evidence session on 11 September, such as the number of pupils who were unable to start the school year as …

Gov response: 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The department will write to the Committee alongside publication of the Treasury Minute.

#12 — DfE lacks proactive funding commitments or eradication targets for RAAC in schools.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DHSC is providing £685 million of funding, to the end of 2025, to mitigate RAAC in hospitals. It has also committed to eradicating RAAC across the NHS estate by 2035.21 DfE has not proactively set out funding commitments or eradication …

Gov response: 2.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.7 There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England and the vast majority are unaffected by RAAC. 2.8 All responsible bodies for schools and …

#11 — Schools awaiting specialist surveys for suspected RAAC face prolonged uncertainty regarding building safety.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The schools that have recently responded to DfE’s questionnaire saying they believe RAAC is present in their buildings are likely to be waiting a number of weeks for this to be confirmed by a specialist survey.19 DfE’s guidance for these …

Gov response: 1.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.7 The Department for Education has moved at pace to support identification of RAAC in the school and college estate, including ramping up its programme …

#1 — DfE significantly changed safety guidance for RAAC-affected schools in August 2023.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: 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 …

#8 — Require DfE to provide assurance on School Rebuilding Programme timetable, costs, and scenario planning.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The School Rebuilding Programme is behind its initial schedule for getting contracts in place and schools built. DfE announced the School Rebuilding Programme in June 2020. By March 2023, it had delivered one project compared with a forecast four, and …

Gov response: 8.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2024 8.2 There are now over 500 schools in the School Rebuilding Programme, including schools with RAAC that need rebuilding projects. The department …

#7 — Establish a strategy for timely school repairs and reconsider fire safety value for money analysis.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE has focused on reactive measures addressing immediate building concerns that often fail to take account of longer-term value for money considerations. DfE has committed to providing funding for all schools that face critical and immediate safety risks but are …

Gov response: 7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: February 2025 7.2 The department expects responsible bodies to maintain their estates in a safe condition, compliant with relevant regulations, and to plan management …

#6 — Develop a support package and good practice guidance for schools in poor condition.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Unacceptable numbers of pupils are learning in poorly maintained or potentially unsafe buildings. The quality of school buildings has an impact on pupils’ learning experience, and ultimately on attainment levels and teacher retention. An estimated 700,000 pupils attend the 1,200 …

Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 6.2 It is the responsibility of responsible bodies to keep their buildings safe and carefully prioritise investment over time. It is already the case that …

#5 — Require DfE to demonstrate a full picture of asbestos and adequate management plans in all schools.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE has incomplete knowledge of the prevalence of asbestos across the school estate. In May 2022, DfE agreed with our recommendation that it should urgently chase the 7% of schools that had not responded to the asbestos management survey it …

Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 5.2 The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously – which is why it expects …

#4 — Require DfE to provide a detailed assessment of the RAAC problem, plan, and associated costs.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: There remains a lack of transparency for schools, parents and communities on where RAAC exists and how long it will take to be fixed. DfE was unable to provide answers to important questions such as how many specialist surveys to …

Gov response: 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The department will write to the Committee alongside publication of the Treasury Minute.

#3 — Re-examine DfE's funding process for temporary RAAC mitigation, ensuring accessibility and value for money.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Schools are uncertain about the support they can access to mitigate RAAC-related issues, and how they will be reimbursed financially. The temporary classrooms that DfE is providing will generally be for those schools that were known to be affected by …

Gov response: 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 The department is funding emergency capital works needed to mitigate the presence of RAAC in schools and colleges in England. This could include installing …

#2 — Clarify DfE's school estate safety risk appetite and publish its RAAC eradication plan.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: DfE’s risk appetite regarding the school estate, and how this aligns with its recent approach on RAAC, appears unclear. Since summer 2021, DfE has recognised a significant safety risk across the school estate. In spring 2023, it continued to assess …

Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 All pupils must learn in safe buildings. The responsibility for keeping school buildings safe and compliant with relevant regulations lies with schools and their …

Partially Accepted

#88 — Develop and implement a comprehensive capital investment strategy for sustainable SEND provision.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The Department for Education should develop and implement a comprehensive capital investment strategy for SEND. This strategy should provide clarity over future funding streams, enable better forecasting and planning, and support the development of high-quality, fit-for- purpose settings across both …

Gov response: We also recognise the important role of capital funding in improving access to provision and in improving the inclusivity of mainstream schools. The £740 million high needs capital for 2025–26 is a core part of …

Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation: We heard mixed views about the merits of the Opening School Facilities Fund. We are concerned, however, that the closure of the fund, without a replacement, has left facilities underused despite clear demand from young people. (Conclusion, Paragraph 62)

Response Pending

NAO Audit Recommendations (3)

Condition of school buildings

d) assess whether its current plan to carry out 200 invasive structural assessments on system-built blocks remains the best approach to provide an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the nature and the scale of the risks associated with the blocks, …

Condition of school buildings

e) use new data, including the results of its second data collection programme when available, to assess whether its current formula for allocating funding for maintenance and repair is sufficiently aligned with need;

Condition of school buildings

f) formally assess the appropriateness of the threshold which determines whether responsible bodies receive maintenance and repair funding directly or through applying for specific projects;

IMB Annual Reports (1)

The IMB report for HMP/YOI Feltham (August 2024-September 2025) highlights significant internal restructuring into Feltham A (YOI) and Feltham B (Category C). While commendable progress has been made in staff professionalism, substance-free units, and reduced 'keep aparts', critical concerns persist regarding high staff absence on Feltham A affecting regime, severe probation staffing shortages, and the negative impact of new visa rules on foreign national prison officers. The establishment also faces ongoing issues with estate underinvestment, insufficient purposeful activity, and the prevalence of weapons and drug contraband.

PRISON Key concerns

IMB Recommendations (57) — showing 50 strongest matches

Werrington (2020)

Can the minister guarantee that investment will be available to convert inadequate old buildings such as those at HMP/YOI Werrington into effective secure schools?

Low Newton (2020)

The deteriorating state of the prison roofs is of great concern to the Board. A number of classrooms and workshop areas are out of action. This causes a reduction in education and work opportunities for the women. There are also health and safety issues when buckets and other containers have to be put out to catch rainwater.

Liverpool (2020)

HMP Liverpool is an old Victorian prison and although a great deal of money has been spent on it in the last few years, such a building needs constant maintenance. Therefore, finances need to be provided for its continual upkeep. At present there is a problem with the heating system at Liverpool.

Does the prison have an ongoing schedule of projects to improve the quality of prisoner accommodation? What is the likely timeframe for the upgrading of power supply to dormitories to support the provision of fridges and additional microwaves?

Governor / Director

The quality of prisoner accommodation at Sudbury is deficient in many ways and the IMB has been reporting on the poor quality of dormitory accommodation since 2018. Whilst the prison itself has managed to make some improvement to kitchen/shower/toilet facilities it remains an issue for prisoners. What plans does the service have to secure necessary resources for improvements?

There is reference in the White Paper to improving the existing prison estate via the creation of a new strategy for maintenance and renewal of prisons. Such renewal is urgently needed at Sudbury where prisoner accommodation is extremely outdated and of a quality intended only to sustain buildings temporarily. What is the likely timeframe for the production of this renewal …

Springhill (2023)

The quality of accommodation for the majority of men in the older huts remains very poor: the ability of the prison to function efficiently and to effectively prepare men for life outside is repeatedly hampered by the generally decaying infrastructure, the breakdown of old equipment and low wages. As in our last report, the Board asks again when the Minister …

Rochester (2023)

As stated last year, the accommodation at HMP/YOI Rochester is very poor, and in the Board’s view, just about providing the minimal standard required. The Edwardian buildings on the old site are dilapidated and challenging to keep maintained; and the newer pre-fabricated buildings have exceeded their original use dates by several years, and are beset by poor ventilation as well …

What is being done to improve maintenance of the site? There are many long-standing unresolved issues, such as leaking roof lights.

Underinvestment in the fabric of the estate requires attention.

What are the plans for improving the structural fabric of the whole prison?

Woodhill (2020)

To manage more effectively the works maintenance programme

Governor / Director

Hollesley Bay (2020)

that a comprehensive review is undertaken of the physical condition of HMP Hollesley Bay, and that a capital programme is established for both the refurbishment and, where necessary, the replacement of the existing facilities

Long Lartin (2021)

The Board believes that a detailed survey of the condition of the whole establishment should be undertaken without delay, followed by clear decisions and action to restore it to an acceptable condition.

Governor / Director

Springhill (2022)

The Board again emphasises the need for appropriate investment as opposed to short-term funding to patch the generally decaying infrastructure of the whole site.

As in previous years, the Board remains concerned about the tardy manner in which numerous repair and maintenance jobs across the establishment are dealt with (see paragraph 5.1.5).

Hollesley Bay (2022)

Requests that the outstanding repair and maintenance issues being faced daily by most prisons in the UK are addressed.

Hollesley Bay (2022)

Requests that the outstanding repair and maintenance issues being faced daily by most prisons in the UK are addressed.

Cookham Wood (2022)

Performance of Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL): The delays in the timely delivery of capital projects and poor state of general repairs and maintenance are a disgrace. Projects have regularly over-run, been poorly monitored, and shoddily delivered. The service is effectively inefficient and costly. Boys in Cookham Wood are missing out on the facilities they deserve, and staff are having …

There has been some welcome refurbishment of the shower/toilet facilities on several corridors. However, the continuing failure to adequately maintain the prison estate to an acceptable level leads us to question what actually needs to happen before a full refurbishment plan is drawn up and executed for A, R and Q wings, in particular. The Board is concerned that the …

Woodhill (2024)

Review how capital budgets can more effectively be used to maintain the fabric of the prison estate.

Woodhill (2020)

To ensure sufficient funding for works and maintenance.

Erlestoke (2021)

When will the units be replaced?

Whilst there have been some improvements in the accommodation, these are largely cosmetic and much more is needed. The Board commends the prisoner projects team who have carried out much of this work. See section 5.1.9.

High Down (2023)

The unrefurbished showers at HMP High Down are in an unacceptable state, but the Board has been told there is insufficient funding for them to be upgraded. What does the Prison Service intend to do to improve the showers?

The Board recommends that the Minister provides assurance that he is aware of capital funding shortfalls for the upgrading of old and dilapidated buildings and fittings, including windows on the wings, and the repair of outdoor sports surfaces, and gives some indication of a timetable for when funds are likely to be forthcoming to start to address these concerns.

Ministry of Justice

Ford is a huge (110 acre) site that contains a number of unused and almost derelict buildings and land. Apart from the potentially missed opportunity from not making better use of the land, this also contributes to a lack of cleanliness around the estate. We are pleased that the new Governor has made this a priority, given the negative impact …

Governor / Director

When will the Prison Service address the significant improvements in the infrastructure of the prison that have been needed for many years?

Belmarsh (2023)

Considering the age and condition of some of the present equipment and facilities in the kitchen, could the prison consider the preparation of a bid to improve overall kitchen facilities?

Governor / Director

Standford Hill (2024)

The condition of some of the buildings on site is not good and additional funding needs to be obtained to ensure this is addressed.

Governor / Director

Standford Hill (2024)

The unsafe buildings within the Standford Hill estate need to be made safe and additional facilities made available. We consider the response to this possible health and safety situation so far to have been unacceptable and, indeed, too slow.

Can HMPPS reassure the Board that funding for the essential refurbishment, which has been highlighted for a number of years, will be forthcoming?

Will the Prison Service please explain why there will not be a full overhaul of the boilers and heating systems in HMP/YOI Norwich until ongoing projects have been completed?

Will the service explore all options to enable the quickest possible replacement of the prison’s heating and hot water system and ensure, in the interim, that the Governor receives adequate resources to keep prisoners warm in winter?

Fosse Way (2025)

What are the current plans to tackle the building issues, including building and fabric design faults and inappropriate equipment?

Improve the structural fabric of the whole prison.

Address underinvestment in the structural fabric of the estate.

Ministry of Justice

Brinsford (2023)

On occasions during the winter units were without any form of heating. This is not acceptable. Prisoners were provided with extra blankets, but this was not good enough.

Ministry of Justice

New Hall (2020)

In addition, the buildings and fabric of the prison should not be allowed to fall below their current levels without redress.

Ministry of Justice

Stoke Heath (2022)

The prison should continue to prioritise the replacement of the heating and hot water system, to start in early 2023.

Governor / Director

Chelmsford (2022)

To ensure adequate funding for the ongoing improvement of the prison’s buildings and facilities.

Ministry of Justice

What action can be taken to address the ongoing problems with heating and hot water and to address the delays in maintenance and repairs?

Governor / Director

Once again, as in previous annual reports, the Board remains concerned about the length of time taken and the quality of work undertaken by Amey when dealing with numerous repair and maintenance jobs across the establishment. What action can be taken to rectify this?

Will the prison service ensure that maintenance and repairs are carried out in a timely manner and that sufficient funding is available locally to do this?

Given the age of most of the prison wings, will the Minister ensure that there is sufficient funding available to make proper repairs to the infrastructure?

Ministry of Justice

Flat roofs in many areas of the prison are in urgent need of repair. In particular roofs leak in numerous areas of the main security corridor. It will be only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured by slipping and falling on puddles. This needs sufficient capital investment to rectify the problem.

It is pleasing to report on the successful refurbishment of the showers and toilets on D and E wings during the year. Whilst the delivery of the works was slow, we were more concerned that the provision of temporary outdoor shower and toilet facilities was unfit for purpose. Any plans for further such works should address this as a matter …

Governor / Director

Featherstone (2023)

As previously reported over several years Featherstone is in a dilapidated state and does not provide the facilities expected in a modern prison. The cells and wings are in poor condition, temporary repairs are only acting as a sticking plaster and not resolving the underlying problems.

Ministry of Justice

Pentonville (2024)

How can the Minister justify the lack of urgency by HMPPS to address the appalling state of the main mosque roof?

Northumberland (2024)

What action can be taken to ensure any remaining RAAC issues are dealt with swiftly?

LGO / SPSO Decisions (109)

201603557 — City Of Glasgow College

Mr C complained that the college failed to provide him with the facilities advertised and about the time taken to deal with his complaint. Mr C was unable to provide us with information about the specific facilities advertised and, as the college's website had changed since the time Mr C …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Education Partly Upheld May 2017

202209886 — Aberdeen City Council

C complained that the council and school staff failed to reasonably respond or act when C told them about domestic violence witnessed by their child (A). C said that the council had breached their duty of care and Child Protection obligations in respect of A by ignoring C’s concerns about …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Nov 2024

201205163 — A Council

Ms C complained to the council that her child's school did not follow procedures for dealing with bullying and did not respond to parents' concerns about her child being bullied. She said that the council did not ensure that anti-bullying policies and procedures were in place and being followed by …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Jul 2013

201203674 — A Council

Mr C complained that the council had unfairly prevented him from seeing his child during the school lunch hour and that their response to his complaint was confused and contradictory. Mr C said that this was particularly unfair as at the time this was his only opportunity to see his …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Jul 2013

201401799 — A Council

Mr C complained to the council that his child had been allocated to a composite class, where he felt the child's wellbeing was not being met. He said the school had not followed the guidelines for composite classes, and had not properly considered his concerns about bullying and his child’s …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Oct 2014

201301049 — A Council

Ms C's child was a pupil at a school and was the target of a bullying incident. The school investigated, and suspended two pupils as a result of their enquiries. Ms C's child continued to feel intimidated by one of the pupils and became unwell, resulting in an absence from …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Nov 2014

201303004 — A Council

Mrs C's children had been placed on the child protection register, and she complained that the head teacher at her son's school had made unsubstantiated allegations to the council's social work department about her parenting ability. Mrs C also complained that the head teacher had unreasonably failed to ask for …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Dec 2014

201405071 — Dumfries and Galloway Council

Ms C, who is an independent advocate, complained to the council on behalf of her clients (Mr and Mrs A) that their children's school had not addressed their children's support needs, not protected their well-being, treated them unfairly, and that Mr and Mrs A's complaints to the school were not …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld May 2015

201402445 — Scottish Borders Council

Mr C's child went missing while using the school bus service. Mr C complained that his child was put at risk because the driver did not know which children were travelling on the bus that day and did not check when asked by Mr C's wife (Mrs C) to make …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld May 2015

201400741 — Fife Council

Miss C complained to us that the council did not respond reasonably to her complaint about the transition arrangements for transferring her child from nursery to primary school and that her child's educational needs were not being appropriately met at the school. Miss C's child has additional educational needs and, …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld May 2015

201403087 — The Highland Council

Mr C complained that his child had been bullied at school and that the response from the school and the council had been inadequate and inappropriate. Mr C said they had regularly reported incidents of bullying to the school but these had not been properly recorded. When they complained to …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Sep 2015

201405212 — Perth and Kinross Council

Ms C complained to us about a meeting that the council had held about her son. She said that the minutes of the meeting were inaccurate and she wanted them to be destroyed. During our investigation, the council told us that they had destroyed the minutes and that the only …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Jan 2016

201406363 — Aberdeenshire Council

Mrs C raised a number of complaints with the council about how she felt the school were failing to provide a safe and supportive environment for her oldest son. Mrs C also complained that the response to her youngest son's allegation about being hit by a teacher was inadequate. After …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld May 2016

201405810 — Scottish Borders Council

Mr and Mrs C complained to the council about the treatment their child received from the head teacher and another teacher at their school. Their child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and has additional support needs. Mr and Mrs C were concerned that this was not being properly taken …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld May 2016

201807567 — Glasgow City Council

Ms C complained about the primary school her child (Child A) attended. She complained that she was not updated about Child A's academic progress; that Child A was unreasonably given access to scissors; that there was an unreasonable failure to record incidents with other pupils; and that there was a …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Aug 2019

201805923 — North Ayrshire Council

Mr C complained about the actions of his child's (Child A) school in relation to an incident that took place during a meeting. Mr C said that the council failed to act appropriately after the incident took place. The council stated that there was no agreement about what took place …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Aug 2019

201805871 — Perth and Kinross Council

Mrs C complained that the council failed to follow relevant procedures after an incident occurred at her child's (Child A) school. Mrs C was concerned that an ambulance and the police were not called immediately after the incident, and that appropriate support was not in place for Child A's return …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Aug 2019

201810121 — Aberdeenshire Council

C complained that the council failed to take appropriate action in response to reports of bullying of their children (Child A and Child B) at primary school. C said that the reports of bullying were not investigated appropriately and the council denied that many of them occurred. We considered both …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Jul 2020

201810430 — Dumfries and Galloway Council

C’s child (A) was involved in an incident with another pupil. C complained to the council about how the matter had been handled. They complained about the school’s actions once the incident was reported, the school’s failure to instigate child protection procedures or involve partner services, and about the lack …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Aug 2020

201809868 — Glasgow City Council

C complained that their complaints about the bullying of their child had not been addressed by the school they attended. C met with teaching staff to discuss the incidents giving rise to their complaints and subsequently attended a parent-teacher meeting. C complained that school staff had behaved unreasonably towards them, …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Aug 2020

201903957 — South Ayrshire Council

C complained about two incidents involving their child (A) and another child at school. C said that child protection procedures should have been followed. We did not consider that C's complaint was a child protection matter and therefore child protection procedures did not require to be followed. We did not …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Sep 2020

201900916 — Perth and Kinross Council

C and B complained about the council's communication with them when they were arranging a placement for their child (A) at an independent school. A has additional support needs and the placement was arranged and funded by the council at C and B's request. C and B later became aware …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Sep 2020

201909305 — East Dunbartonshire Council

C complained about the council's handling of their complaints about their child (A) being bullied at their local secondary school. They referred to a number of incidents which they reported to the school. They complained that the school failed to investigate these incidents adequately. They also complained that the council …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Dec 2021

202310572 — Fife Council

C complained that the council unreasonably failed to follow relevant processes and procedures in managing and responding to bullying behaviour experienced by C's child (A). C also complained about the way the council handled their complaint. In response to C's complaint, the council confirmed that the school had taken appropriate …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Jun 2025

PSOW-202303175 — Powys County Council

Mr H complained that Powys County Council delayed installing emergency lighting and has not put in place temporary lighting. The Ombudsman found that the Council had failed to provide temporary lighting and had provided Mr H with incorrect information. She said that this caused frustration and uncertainty to Mr H. …

PSOW (Public Services Om… Local Government Aug 2023

PSOW-202408181 — Bridgend County Borough Council

Mr X complained that Bridgend County Borough Council had failed to respond to his complaint submitted to it in October 2024 regarding an administration error that occurred which resulted in him not being appointed as a school governor contrary to previous correspondence he had received. The Ombudsman concluded that the …

PSOW (Public Services Om… Local Government Feb 2025

24-004-571 — Essex County Council

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a school fence. This is because the Council has no duty to pay for structures which the school owns and we do not have the power to investigate this type of complaint about what happens in schools.

LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Aug 2024

24-008-013 — Lincolnshire County Council

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about a school’s decision to restrict his contact. We cannot investigate complaints about the internal management of schools.

LGO (Local Government & … Education Oct 2024

201004919 — Scottish Borders Council

Mr C complained to us that the council had not thoroughly investigated his complaint against a school. He was banned from voluntary activity at the school after a discussion with a teacher in which he was perceived to have acted aggressively. He was not happy that after the formal investigation, …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Jul 2011

201004831 — West Lothian Council

Mr C complained that the council broke an alleged 'silent agreement' between a councillor and the education authority that Roman Catholic children would not be refused a place at a local Roman Catholic school. When we investigated this, it became clear that the 'silent agreement' being referred to was a …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Jul 2011

201100205 — The City of Edinburgh Council

Mr C has a daughter who started primary three of school in August 2010. Mr C was concerned that his daughter's handwriting had deteriorated and sought a meeting with the head teacher. He was not happy with the outcome of that meeting and three other incidents involving his daughter's class …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Oct 2011

201004962 — Aberdeenshire Council

Mr C’s complaint arose from an incident in a primary school playground, where Mr C's seven year old son was injured as a result of older boys drawing a skipping rope across his son's throat. The incident was not witnessed by an adult but was reported by Mrs C to …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Oct 2011

201204321 — Dundee City Council

Mr and Mrs C complained that an alleged incident of bullying involving their daughter was not handled according to procedure, and that the council failed to fully deal with their complaint. Mr and Mrs C said that neither the school nor the council had followed their own policy in handling …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Jun 2013

201201945 — A Council

Mrs C's daughter and her classmates participated in a swimming lesson given by a council swimming instructor at a local leisure facility managed by a leisure company. Her daughter was asked to repeat a task in front of the class and was left upset. Mrs C and her husband pursued …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Oct 2013

201301469 — A Council

Mr C complained that the council took an unreasonable length of time to respond to his complaints and did not adequately investigate and respond to his concerns about the actions of a school with regard to the alleged bullying of his son. He said that he was very concerned about …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Dec 2013

201300857 — A Council

Mrs C's child had suffered verbal abuse, physical assault and bullying on social media. Mrs C complained that the school did not follow anti-bullying policies, and that the council's policy did not provide adequate protection. She said that the school and the council had not taken enough steps to protect …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Jan 2014

201302087 — Clackmannanshire Council

Mr and Ms C complained because the council decided to transfer their child to a composite school class (a class in which there are pupils from two or more year groups). Mr and Ms C said that this was done without any proper prior notice or discussion. They also said …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Mar 2014

201302050 — A Council

Mrs C complained about how the council investigated her complaint about how a school had treated her child (who had been identified as having additional support needs). She said that she felt the investigation was biased and unfair. Our investigation found that in looking into Mrs C's complaint the council …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Mar 2014

201303731 — Scottish Borders Council

Mr C complained about the council's investigation into a complaint he made about his child's primary school. His complaints included that the school did not put in place necessary meetings and that the council did not investigate his complaint properly. He also said that the council did not discuss his …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Sep 2014

201304815 — A Council

Mrs C complained to us about her dissatisfaction with the council's investigation into her complaints about bullying of her children at their former school. She said that the school had failed to make her aware of their anti-bullying policy; had not contacted her when one of her children was hit …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Feb 2015

201405859 — Aberdeen City Council

Mrs C complained about how the council dealt with bullying at her child's school. Mrs C said that the head teacher had shown a lack of care towards her child, that their ineffective action led to the continued bullying of her child and that the anti-bullying policy was not well …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Feb 2016

201502712 — Inverclyde Council

Mrs C complained about how school staff handled a report of bullying of her daughter. While Mrs C was satisfied with the handling of the matter at the time, she became concerned some months later when the pupils involved in the bullying behaviour were given additional opportunities within the school. …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Mar 2016

201508465 — Aberdeenshire Council

Mr and Mrs C's child made a disclosure to their class teacher about an incident they found upsetting within the family home. The class teacher spoke to the head teacher and the child was interviewed by the head teacher. The head teacher then contacted another member of the education department …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Sep 2016

201507895 — Aberdeenshire Council

Mr C complained on behalf of his daughter (Miss A) about the transfer of school work when she moved between two schools. We found that while the first school had updated Miss A's exam results promptly after she withdrew from the school, they did not properly deal with requests from …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Sep 2016

201606311 — The Highland Council

Mr C complained that the council failed to take reasonable action in response to reports of bullying of Mr C's daughter at her school. Mr C also complained that the council failed to respond reasonably to his subsequent complaints. We did not uphold Mr C's concerns about the actions taken …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld May 2017

201604163 — Renfrewshire Council

Mrs C complained about the council's handling of the decision to change her son (child A)'s school class for the following academic year. Child A had been informed of his class before the school summer holidays. However, very shortly before the beginning of the school term, Mrs C was told …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld May 2017

201606223 — Perth and Kinross Council

Ms C, who is an MSP, complained on behalf of her constituent (Mrs B) about the decision made by Mrs B's daughter (Miss A)'s school to exclude Miss A from attending an overseas trip. Miss A has a condition which is a disability under the Equalities Act 2010. The school …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Upheld Dec 2017

201601915 — Glasgow City Council

Mr and Mrs C complained on behalf of two of their children (Master A and Miss A), who have additional support needs. They complained that the council failed to provide the children with adequate educational support, that they had failed to follow their anti-bullying policy in relation to Master A, …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Dec 2017

201605386 — Glasgow City Council

Ms and Mr C complained that the council failed to take reasonable action in response to reports of bullying of their children at school by another child. In particular, Ms and Mr C were concerned that a restorative conversation was not facilitated by the school between their children and the …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Not Upheld Jan 2018

201806265 — East Dunbartonshire Council

Mr C complained about the secondary school his child (Child A) attended. He said that after his family had told the school of an incident which Child A had witnessed, the school failed to communicate reasonably with him regarding their progress and wellbeing. We found that the evidence showed that …

SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Local Government Partly Upheld Jun 2019

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