Recommendations & Conclusions
28 items
3
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 RAAC before the late August 2023 change of risk approach. …
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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 RAAC before the late August 2023 change of risk approach. DfE could not provide us with a figure on how many were being provided. DfE has undertaken to pay for the capital costs incurred by schools, but its approach to revenue funding, and paying for surveys carried out by schools, is less clear, particularly if a school has significant reserves. DfE is still to set the funding application process, but has accepted the need for some checking and controls to be in place. While each school has access to a caseworker, anecdotal evidence suggests that many are struggling to understand DfE’s approach, and are concerned about a lack of fairness in terms of access to temporary support and how that support will be paid for. Recommendation 3: DfE needs to re-examine its process for funding temporary mitigation measures, ensuring it achieves the right balance between accessibility and value for money, communicating this clearly and consistently to schools.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating it funds emergency capital works and reasonable revenue costs for RAAC mitigation, provides dedicated caseworkers, and keeps processes under review to ensure accessibility and value for money.
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HM Treasury
4
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 confirm RAAC are outstanding and likely to be carried out, …
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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 confirm RAAC are outstanding and likely to be carried out, or how many pupils were affected by RAAC-related school closures at the start of the 2023–24 school year. DfE says it is looking to release information in a managed and routine way as it does for other management information. After our evidence session DfE reported on 19 October that RAAC had at that point been confirmed in 214 educational settings, of which 202 were providing face-to-face education for all pupils. Despite suggestions in early September that the RAAC situation would be resolved in a matter of weeks, DfE is aware that some cases are too complicated to be dealt with in this timeframe, and that some schools will not even be identified as having RAAC until later. Recommendation 4: DfE must write to the Committee, alongside its Treasury Minute response, with its latest assessment of the scale of the RAAC problem, its overall plan to deal with it, and the likely associated costs.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation and committed to writing to the Committee alongside the Treasury Minute publication with an assessment of the RAAC problem, its plan, and associated costs.
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HM Treasury
5
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 launched in 2018. In July 2023, DfE explained that the …
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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 launched in 2018. In July 2023, DfE explained that the proportion of schools on which it was unsighted had since fallen to just over 4%, although this still represents almost 1,000 schools. Work on DfE’s ongoing second Condition Data Collection programme (CDC2) will not specifically check for asbestos, but it will include a review of schools’ asbestos management plans and compliance with guidance requiring schools to have an onsite asbestos register. The unexpected presence of asbestos has complicated ongoing work to address other issues such as RAAC. The two can both be present in the same building. Data from the Health and Safety Executive suggest, that since 2011, around 11 teachers or ex-teachers have died from asbestos-related conditions each year. The condition of school buildings 7 Recommendation 5: As soon as possible, DfE should provide us with evidence that it has a full picture of asbestos across the school estate, having received survey returns from all schools and ensuring that every relevant school has an adequate asbestos management plan in place.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, stating the ongoing Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme will collect full asbestos data and review management plans by December 2026. This programme has already reduced non-responders to 3.9% and aims for a full dataset by 2026.
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HM Treasury
6
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 schools that have been considered for the School Rebuilding Programme, …
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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 schools that have been considered for the School Rebuilding Programme, which aims to rebuild or refurbish those buildings in the most need given safety matters or their poor general condition (which could include problems with, for example, roofs, windows or heating systems). DfE will select 500 schools to be included in the programme. DfE’s first Condition Data Collection programme (CDC1), conducted between 2017 and 2019, found that just over 2% of building components were in ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ condition, but this covers a large number of schools. Recommendation 6: Within the next year, DfE should develop a package of support and good practice to help those responsible for mitigating the negative impact on pupils and teachers of schools that are in poor condition but cannot yet be fixed.
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Government response AI summary
The government claims the recommendation is implemented, highlighting existing extensive guidance and support such as the Good Estate Management for Schools manual and the Capital Advisers Programme. It states it keeps its guidance under review but does not commit to developing a new package of …
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HM Treasury
7
Recommendation
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 unable to carry out appropriate remedial work themselves. DfE has …
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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 unable to carry out appropriate remedial work themselves. DfE has been allocated school rebuilding funding equating to £1.3 billion a year – allowing it to rebuild 50 schools a year, rather than the 200 a year that it set out it in its Spending Review 2020 case. A significant number of the schools chosen for DfE’s latest capital programme—the School Rebuilding Programme—have been selected in response to structural or safety issues that responsible bodies have identified as serious enough to mean buildings are at risk of closure or pose a risk to staff and pupils. DfE told us that many of the 100 schools still to be selected for the programme will be chosen because they have serious issues with RAAC. As such, many other schools will not get on to the School Rebuilding Programme even though a longer- term value for money assessment based on their poor condition would lead to the conclusion that they should be rebuilt. With regard to fire safety measures, DfE’s cost-benefit calculations often lead it to opt for expensive retrofitting rather than initial inclusion in a new school design which is cheaper. Recommendation 7: Within the next year, DfE should set out its strategy for encouraging responsible bodies to carry out timely and effective repairs to better protect longer-term value for money. It should also reconsider its value for money analysis on fitting fire safety measures.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and aims for implementation by February 2025. It states it is considering how to further clarify roles and support responsible bodies in managing estates effectively for the long-term, building on existing guidance and programmes. The response does not explicitly …
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HM Treasury
8
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 awarded 24 contracts compared with a forecast 83. Price inflation …
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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 awarded 24 contracts compared with a forecast 83. Price inflation and other market conditions have made it difficult to find contractors. DfE 8 The condition of school buildings has reacted by offering risk-sharing arrangements that are more attractive to the building sector and by standardising the design of buildings. DfE concedes that it will not be able to catch up on projects where it is already behind the planned timeframe, but it is confident it will stay on track for upcoming projects. We have seen how changes in the external environment, such as movements in inflation rates, may affect programmes and create complexities. These factors may mean a programme can no longer achieve its intended outcomes, or it is too costly to do so. Recommendation 8: DfE should provide us with assurance that it has a good understanding of how current and likely future challenges will affect the timetable and costs for the School Rebuilding Programme, including by carrying out appropriate scenario-planning should likely and significant risks materialise.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees and aims for implementation by December 2024, stating the School Rebuilding Programme robustly manages risks through continuous monitoring and regular IPA gateway reviews. It highlights that the NAO noted steps already taken to address delays and that overall progress is on track.
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HM Treasury
9
Recommendation
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
There is considerable variation across the school estate, including regional disparity in the condition of school buildings and differences in school types and governance models, which will influence the type of support DfE needs to provide. The map of school building condition shows a broad north-south divide, with higher need …
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There is considerable variation across the school estate, including regional disparity in the condition of school buildings and differences in school types and governance models, which will influence the type of support DfE needs to provide. The map of school building condition shows a broad north-south divide, with higher need in the north. However, a more granular assessment also suggests that schools in rural and coastal areas face particular difficulties. DfE does not currently have a mechanism for directing capital funding towards those areas identified as meriting particular support to tackle weak educational outcomes. For around one- third of the 1,000 schools with the highest level of need, the responsible body did not make an application for the School Rebuilding Programme. DfE has also found that a proportion of schools in most need do not apply for, or are unaware of, the maintenance and repair funding that is available to them. Voluntary-aided schools (which are typically faith-based) often have good relationships with their respective oversight bodies, but administrative and funding arrangements are inconsistent. Some small local authorities, which are responsible for only a few maintained schools, may lack estate management capability but are currently excluded from DfE’s Capital Advisers Programme. Recommendation 9: DfE should review its guidance, support and financial allocations designed to help reduce variation in the condition of school buildings and the capability of those managing the estate, and make improvements where necessary.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and aims for implementation by March 2025. It confirms it keeps its capital funding, guidance, and support under review, with data from Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) informing potential changes to the allocation methodology for 2025-26.
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HM Treasury
11
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 schools is not to close the spaces where they suspect …
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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 schools is not to close the spaces where they suspect RAAC to be present, but to make a contingency plan for what they will do if RAAC is confirmed.20
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Government response AI summary
The government states the RAAC identification programme is complete, with all suspected cases surveyed and a final list of confirmed cases published on 8 February 2024, indicating that schools are no longer waiting for surveys.
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HM Treasury
12
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 targets, and instead explained that its priorities are to identify …
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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 targets, and instead explained that its priorities are to identify RAAC, move children out from under it, and then mitigate it.22 Schools’ uncertainty about the temporary support available to deal with RAAC
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Government response AI summary
The government states that it has committed to permanently remove RAAC from the school estate and confirmed how it will fund schools for this on 8 February 2024, through grants or the School Rebuilding Programme. This directly addresses the committee's observation that DfE had not …
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HM Treasury
15
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
DfE told us that, where a school hires portable classrooms, this counts as revenue expenditure. In this case, DfE checks that the expenditure is reasonable and the school does not have high levels of reserves from which it should be providing the funding itself.25 DfE also explained that it would …
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DfE told us that, where a school hires portable classrooms, this counts as revenue expenditure. In this case, DfE checks that the expenditure is reasonable and the school does not have high levels of reserves from which it should be providing the funding itself.25 DfE also explained that it would talk to schools that wanted to be reimbursed for costs they had incurred for RAAC surveys. However, DfE implied that reimbursement might not be available for schools that had looked for RAAC as part of a broader structural survey.26 DfE emphasised that it wanted the process for schools to reclaim costs to be streamlined, but the process needed to include appropriate checks that claims were proportionate and properly related to the issue. At the same time, DfE said that it would err on the side of generosity, and expected to meet all reasonable costs.27
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its policy of funding emergency capital works and approving all reasonable requests for revenue costs, such as temporary buildings or transport. It emphasizes streamlining processes, working closely with schools, and providing urgent payments when necessary, aligning with its commitment to meet reasonable …
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HM Treasury
16
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
DfE told us that it assigned a caseworker to each school affected by RAAC. Schools can liaise with their caseworker about buildings, finances or educational matters.28 However, we challenged DfE with evidence that the system was not working perfectly. For example, it took some time for caseworkers to be given …
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DfE told us that it assigned a caseworker to each school affected by RAAC. Schools can liaise with their caseworker about buildings, finances or educational matters.28 However, we challenged DfE with evidence that the system was not working perfectly. For example, it took some time for caseworkers to be given devolved authority to take spending decisions. And there were examples of schools having to engage in protracted discussions over who would pay for basic equipment such as temporary whiteboards.29 Lack of transparency about where RAAC exists and when it will be fixed
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Government response AI summary
The government states it is already funding emergency RAAC works, approving revenue cost requests, providing dedicated caseworker support to schools for bespoke plans and funding access, and has committed to permanently removing RAAC through grants or rebuilding programmes.
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HM Treasury
19
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 receive all the remaining questionnaire returns, and carry out the …
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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 receive all the remaining questionnaire returns, and carry out the necessary specialist surveys, within a small number of weeks. It also expected that, where RAAC had already been confirmed, all pupils should be back in face-to-face learning within a couple of weeks. However, DfE also emphasised that some cases would be more complicated than others, and that timeframes would therefore vary.34 Incomplete knowledge on asbestos
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the RAAC identification programme is complete, a final list of 234 affected settings was published on 8 February 2024, and funding for permanent RAAC removal will be provided through the School Rebuilding Programme for 119 schools and grant funding for 110 …
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HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 that the 7% of schools who were yet to respond …
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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 that the 7% of schools who were yet to respond to its asbestos survey launched in March 2018 could be the worst affected schools without the budget to resolve their asbestos-related problems.35 We recommended that DfE should urgently chase these schools, and DfE subsequently agreed with the recommendation.36
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Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating the AMAP survey is now part of the Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme. As of January 2024, 631 non-responding schools have been visited, and the full dataset for all schools will be available by the target implementation date …
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HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 4.4% of schools, which represents just under 1,000 schools. It …
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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 4.4% of schools, which represents just under 1,000 schools. It said that surveyors visiting schools for CDC2 purposes in order to conduct a visual survey were also carrying out an asbestos assurance process. This involved checking that schools and responsible bodies have an asbestos register on site so that they are readily available if contractors come to do work, and that they have an asbestos management plan in place.37
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Government response AI summary
The government details its ongoing Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme, which has visited 631 non-responding schools as of January 2024 to collect asbestos data, with the full dataset expected by December 2026.
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HM Treasury
22
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 can routinely disturb asbestos. It concluded that this leads to …
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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 can routinely disturb asbestos. It concluded that this leads to increased risk for everyone in the school environment. NAHT also expressed its concern that oversight of asbestos via the CDC2 programme would not be as detailed as in the survey launched in 2018, and would therefore not provide the same level of transparency.38 32 UK Parliament, School and Colleges update, 19 September 2023 33 Department for Education, Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC): management information, 19 October 2023 34 September 2023 session, Qq 115, 127 35 Committee of Public Accounts, Academies Sector Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20, Forty-Seventh Report of Session 2021–22, HC 994, 25 March 2022, pages 6–7 36 HM Treasury, Government Response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-Third to the Forty-Eighth report from Session 2021–22, CP 678, May 2022, page 28 37 July 2023 session, Qq 26–27, 47–48; Correspondence from DfE to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, 7 September 2023 38 TSB0002, NAHT, The condition of school buildings, 13 July 2023 The condition of school buildings 15
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines its ongoing approach to asbestos management through legal duties, HSE regulation, published guidance, and the Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme, which is collecting data from state-funded schools and is expected to be completed by 2026. It doesn't specifically address the concern …
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HM Treasury
23
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 much more asbestos was found when contractors demolished a block …
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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 much more asbestos was found when contractors demolished a block affected by RAAC, causing additional complications. DfE emphasised that it expects contractors to carry out a thorough asbestos survey before doing invasive work to deal with other structural problems.39 Asbestos and RAAC can be present in the same building.
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Government response AI summary
The government reaffirms its policy for responsible bodies to manage asbestos safely in situ when possible, guided by HSE regulations and departmental guidance, and continues to gather comprehensive data on asbestos through the CDC2 programme, expected to complete by 2026.
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HM Treasury
25
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
DfE believes that poor quality school buildings have a negative impact in important ways, including by reducing pupil attainment levels and teacher retention. Stakeholders across the sector also emphasise how buildings being too hot or cold, insufficient ventilation, and disruption caused by parts of a school being unusable, can adversely …
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DfE believes that poor quality school buildings have a negative impact in important ways, including by reducing pupil attainment levels and teacher retention. Stakeholders across the sector also emphasise how buildings being too hot or cold, insufficient ventilation, and disruption caused by parts of a school being unusable, can adversely affect pupils’ experience, especially those struggling academically or those with special educational needs and disabilities. In its written submission, the Confederation of School Trusts stated that its members were clear about the direct impact of building condition on educational provision, particularly where the condition is poor. One of its members explained that “a well-presented, clean environment allows people to feel safe and cared for; a positive environment aids the teaching and learning experience.” By contrast, one of its smaller trusts described a school going through two winters relying on plug-in heaters due to the failure of the boiler and a lack of success in applying for maintenance and repair funding. The Confederation also explained how less substantial issues can still cause signification disruption, such as activities needing to be relocated due to leaking roofs, and rooms with extensive glazing being too hot in summer and expensive to heat in winter.41
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Government response AI summary
The government states that responsible bodies are accountable for safe buildings, and it provides case-by-case support for serious issues. It has allocated over £15 billion since 2015 for school estate improvement, including the School Rebuilding Programme, and provides extensive guidance and support to the sector.
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HM Treasury
29
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 general structural problems.45 In May 2023, DfE also announced that, …
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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 general structural problems.45 In May 2023, DfE also announced that, where RAAC is present in schools, it would provide funding to ensure that it does not pose an immediate risk.46
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's statement and clarifies that it already takes immediate action on serious building safety issues, with support for responsible bodies, and demonstrated this with its response to RAAC risks.
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HM Treasury
30
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 cost of £1.3 billion a year. In selecting applications for …
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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 cost of £1.3 billion a year. In selecting applications for its School Rebuilding Programme, DfE has prioritised schools where structural or safety issues meant that a building was at risk of closure or posed a risk to staff and pupils.47 DfE told us that many of the 100 schools still to be selected for the programme will be chosen because it emerges that they have significant issues with RAAC.48
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Government response AI summary
The government states it robustly assesses nominations for the School Rebuilding Programme based on greatest need and exceptional issues, confirming that the programme now includes over 500 schools, including those with RAAC, and that 400 schools were selected ahead of schedule.
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HM Treasury
32
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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: Design for fire safety in schools, published in 2007.50 Zurich …
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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: Design for fire safety in schools, published in 2007.50 Zurich UK made a similar point, giving an example of a fire at a school in Derbyshire, where the cost of remedial work far exceeded the cost of a sprinkler system that would have saved the school.51 DfE told us that schools are typically considered as relatively low risk buildings, which is why sprinkler systems have typically not been installed. It explained that there is an ongoing consultation on school fire safety, including a suggestion that sprinkler systems should be mandated in residential blocks, special needs schools and blocks over 11 metres. However, DfE accepted that the cost of fitting sprinklers systems to new buildings is significantly lower than retrofitting them to existing buildings. It agreed to look again at its value for money calculations in this area.52 44 July 2023 session, Q 17 45 July 2023 session, Q 16 46 C&AG’s Report, para 2.10 47 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.3, 3.12–3.13 48 July 2023 session, Q 59 49 July 2023 session, Qq 56–57 50 TSB0006, London Fire Brigade, The condition of school buildings, 13 July 2023 51 TSB0004, Zurich UK, The condition of school buildings, 13 July 2023 52 July 2023 session, Qq 49–50 18 The condition of school buildings Delays in the School Rebuilding Programme
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to the recommendation, stating it continues to engage with the Government Actuary Department to review fire data and the impact of sprinklers, and will include a response in the new Fire Safety guidance (BB100) expected by September 2024.
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HM Treasury
33
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 forecasting that it would complete fewer projects in 2023–24 than …
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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 forecasting that it would complete fewer projects in 2023–24 than initially planned.53
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observation, attributes past delays in contract awards to unforeseen global events, and states it has already taken steps to address these issues, with the programme now on track to deliver as planned and projects progressing faster than expected.
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HM Treasury
34
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
DfE told us that in its building programmes, and particularly the School Rebuilding Programme, it had taken longer to agree contracts because of inflationary pressures in the building industry.54 DfE explained that it had responded by amending its funding policies, and developing an ‘alliance model’ involving risk-sharing and greater elements …
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DfE told us that in its building programmes, and particularly the School Rebuilding Programme, it had taken longer to agree contracts because of inflationary pressures in the building industry.54 DfE explained that it had responded by amending its funding policies, and developing an ‘alliance model’ involving risk-sharing and greater elements of standardisation, which should help construction firms to manage cost pressures and improve their speed of delivery. DfE accepted that it would not catch up on the initial projects that had fallen behind, but in terms of the overall programme it still believed that it was on track.55
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Government response AI summary
The government states it has already taken steps to address delays caused by inflationary pressures, including changing project funding policy, and is now seeing a more stable position with overall progress on track and projects being delivered faster than expected.
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HM Treasury
35
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 the consequences can be complicated and different for each project. …
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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 the consequences can be complicated and different for each project. We have asked project management experts about the early warning signs that a project may need to be reset. They replied that the signs include critical milestones not being met, significant cost pressures that cannot be recovered later in the project, and benefits being way off track in terms of realisation.56 Variation across the school estate
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation and states it has already taken steps to address external factors impacting project costs and timeframes, including changing funding policy and robust risk management processes.
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HM Treasury
37
Recommendation
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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, it also analysed why schools most needing maintenance and repair …
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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, it also analysed why schools most needing maintenance and repair had not applied for the available funding. It found that some schools assessed their buildings to be in good condition, while others lacked the capacity to apply, and a small number were not aware of the funding.58 We challenged DfE about how it might persuade school leaders to take a more active interest in the 53 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.11, 3.16 54 July 2023 session, Q 41 55 July 2023 session, Qq 60–64 56 Public Accounts Committee, oral evidence, Resetting programmes, HC 1233, 5 June 2023, Qq 111, 131 57 July 2023 session, Q 70; C&AG’s Report, Figure 5 58 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.15, 3.26 The condition of school buildings 19 strategic management of their estates. DfE replied that the size of the responsible body is a significant factor, given that larger responsible bodies generally have access to greater expertise. It emphasised that its academies handbook clearly sets out the relevant estate management responsibilities, aiming to ensure that academies’ audit and risk committees take issues such as health and safety very seriously.59
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation with a target date of March 2025, detailing ongoing efforts like the Condition Data Collection and Capital Advisers Programme to support estate management, but without specific new strategies to persuade school leaders.
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HM Treasury
38
Recommendation
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 schools.60 We noted how voluntary-aided schools (which are generally faith-based …
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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 schools.60 We noted how voluntary-aided schools (which are generally faith-based institutions) have good relationships with bodies such as the diocesan boards for education and the Catholic Education Service, who can provide higher-level expertise. DfE told us that it is in discussion with these bodies to determine whether different administrative arrangements would deliver improvements.61
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to implement the recommendation by March 2025, but the response details existing capital funding programs and reviews rather than specific new administrative arrangements for dioceses.
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HM Treasury
39
Recommendation
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
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 multi-academy trust. We asked DfE whether it was providing these …
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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 multi-academy trust. We asked DfE whether it was providing these smaller local authorities with additional support, given that they may lack dedicated resources for school estate management. DfE explained that local authorities have estates responsibilities in other parts of their operations, which should help them access the appropriate expertise. It confirmed that, at present, its Capital Advisers Programme is targeted only at academy trusts, although it has not ruled out the idea of extending it to local authorities.62 Making joined-up decisions about school closures and school condition
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and aims for implementation by March 2025, noting existing capital funding programs, but the response does not explicitly commit to extending the Capital Advisers Programme to local authorities.
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HM Treasury
40
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
We expressed concern about whether decisions relating to falling school rolls and improving the condition of schools are sufficiently joined-up across different local authorities and trusts. Historically, there have been school closures due to falling rolls, followed soon after by another demographic wave of pupils which means that more school …
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We expressed concern about whether decisions relating to falling school rolls and improving the condition of schools are sufficiently joined-up across different local authorities and trusts. Historically, there have been school closures due to falling rolls, followed soon after by another demographic wave of pupils which means that more school places need to be created. More recently, in areas such as London, where there are schools on borough boundaries, individual decisions on closure or amalgamation can make little sense locally, but there is no requirement for schools to work together. Where closures are being discussed, this may influence decisions about whether to maintain the condition of these or other buildings. For instance, a school with falling pupil numbers may not attract funding, but children could be placed in a nearby school that does not have falling numbers but has major problems with its buildings, which will cause further disruption if the buildings require work further down the line.63
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's concern and states that local authorities already have a statutory duty for school places and manage demand, while also highlighting the provision of revenue funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, which now includes specific allocations and greater flexibilities for …
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HM Treasury
42
Conclusion
Second Report - The condition of school…
Accepted
DfE reassured us that, when selecting schools for the School Rebuilding Programme, it considers the likely future pattern of pupil numbers, to avoid prioritising schools that are struggling to attract pupils and therefore do not warrant a full rebuild.65 It also emphasised that, ideally, there should be more school places …
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DfE reassured us that, when selecting schools for the School Rebuilding Programme, it considers the likely future pattern of pupil numbers, to avoid prioritising schools that are struggling to attract pupils and therefore do not warrant a full rebuild.65 It also emphasised that, ideally, there should be more school places than children, to allow some parental choice in the system and to accommodate demographic rises. It explained that the free schools programme exists partly to give entry to those who have different ideas about how schools might be run, and also to offer that wider range of choice in the system.66 64 July 2023 session, Q 28 65 July 2023 session, Q 29 66 July 2023 session, Qq 32–33 The condition of school buildings 21
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's observation, stating that local authorities already consider pupil numbers and forecast demand when planning school places, supported by existing funding and new flexibilities through the Dedicated Schools Grant.
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HM Treasury