Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Accepted
HM Treasury funds significantly fewer school rebuilds than DfE recommended annually
Conclusion
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
Government Response 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.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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, were included. 8.2 There are now over 500 schools in the School Rebuilding Programme, including schools with RAAC that need rebuilding projects. The department made rapid progress in setting up the programme and had selected 400 schools by December 2022, ahead of schedule.