The government's programme to rebuild England's most at-risk schools is failing to keep pace with the scale of the problem, leaving children in buildings with potentially dangerous crumbling concrete, a damning report from the spending watchdog reveals.
The National Audit Office (NAO) found that the Department for Education's (DfE) school rebuilding programme is not sufficient to address the deteriorating condition of many school buildings. This comes after the department identified a critical risk of injury or death from crumbling Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in educational settings.
A Programme Falling Short
Despite identifying 700 schools requiring urgent rebuilding or major refurbishment, the DfE's current programme only plans to address 400 of them over the next decade. This leaves hundreds of schools in a precarious state, with the NAO warning that the department lacks a comprehensive plan to manage the most serious safety risks across the entire school estate.
The report highlights a reactive "sticking plaster" approach, where the government is forced to respond to emergencies as they arise, rather than implementing a proactive, long-term strategy for school infrastructure.
Mounting Backlog and Rising Costs
The NAO's investigation uncovered a staggering maintenance backlog estimated at £11.4 billion. The cost of rebuilding or refurbishing the 500 schools in the worst condition is now projected to reach £5.3 billion, a significant increase from previous estimates.
Meg Hillier MP, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, condemned the situation, stating the government is "firefighting" the crisis without a clear plan to ensure all school buildings are safe. She emphasised that pupils and teachers deserve to be in safe, well-maintained buildings that are fit for purpose.
Political Fallout and Government Response
Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson seized on the report, accusing the Conservative government of "gross negligence" for allowing the school estate to fall into such disrepair. She argued that children's education is being held back by the state of their classrooms.
In response, a Department for Education spokesperson stated that the government has taken a proactive approach to RAAC and is committed to the school rebuilding programme. They cited significant investment in school maintenance and claimed the NAO's report acknowledges the department has improved its understanding of the condition of the school estate.
However, the NAO's findings present a stark picture of a system struggling to cope with the scale of the challenge, raising serious questions about the safety and longevity of England's school infrastructure.
