ASCL comment on new school buildings

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders commented on the Department for Education announcement on renovation projects for 239 more schools and sixth forms, and further detail on school funding allocations next year

Geoff said: “While we welcome the announcement of a further wave of school renovation projects, this comes against a background of long-term government neglect which has led to the deterioration of many school buildings.

“The government’s own school conditions survey published last year showed that it would cost £11.4bn to repair or replace all defective elements in the school estate.

“This unacceptable backlog means schools often have to teach children in sub-standard premises.

“The situation is not helped by a convoluted funding system in which many schools have to bid for grants simply to finance work which is required for basic safety requirements.

“The further detail on next year’s school funding allocation is helpful, but these uplifts do not help schools afford the soaring costs that are hitting them now, and are unlikely to be sufficient to cover future costs either.

“In particular, special educational needs provision is under huge pressure. The number of children who need support has been rising for several years, and the mechanisms for getting money to the front line are complex, burdensome and bureaucratic.

“The system is in crisis and much more investment and urgency over system reform are needed.

“It also needs to be understood that the Autumn Statement contained no additional funding for colleges and sixth forms at all despite them also facing steeply rising costs.

“This is the sector that is vital to delivering the skills revolution proclaimed by the government, but ministerial rhetoric is not matched by the woefully insufficient level of investment in post-16 education.”