More than half of dilapidated English schools were refused rebuilding money
More than half of English schools that are so dilapidated they are at risk of partial closure were refused money under the government’s school rebuilding scheme, Department for Education (DfE) statistics show.
It has also emerged that under the programme, intended to rebuild 500 schools in England over a 10-year period from 2020, only four were completed in 2021.
The schools rebuilding programme is separate to the current turmoil over schools forced to close classrooms or buildings because of increased concerns about crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), although some of the work will be to replace Raac-constructed blocks.
Under the most recent full data published by the DfE, of 1,105 schools that applied to be rebuilt, 300 had been selected and 797 refused, with eight dropping out.
Of those turned down, 356 applied under a DfE-set metric called “exceptional case”, which means the school leaders believe the condition of their blocks is “so severe as to risk imminent closure, or a block is already closed”.
Schools can also apply as an exceptional case because the issues needing remedy can be solved only through a complete rebuild, or the school has not had a structural survey under a DfE programme to assess the state of the buildings.
In total, 267 exceptional cases were among those given funding, meaning the success rate for the category was only 43%.
Rishi Sunak and the DfE have come under pressure about the rate of school rebuilds following the chaos over Raac, where a spate of sudden failures in the lightweight concrete intended to be used for only 30 years meant some students were forced to begin the term from home or in temporary classrooms and cabins.
The decision to rebuild at a rate of 50 a year was made when Sunak was chancellor, and came despite a DfE submission for funding to the Treasury asking for between 300 and 400 a year to be approved due to “a critical risk to life” from Raac and other issues.
Downing Street has defended the pace of rebuilds, saying this was around the average for the previous decade, and that other work was being carried out beyond the school rebuilding programme.
Sunak’s official spokesperson said it was incorrect to say that only four schools were rebuilt in 2021, and that when various schemes were considered, 72 were completed that year.
after newsletter promotion
“The numbers do vary, but they obviously cover a number of schemes, just because of the way they have been introduced,” he said.
Asked if the pace was too slow given the students starting this year with remote learning or temporary classrooms, the spokesperson said: “It’s important to understand the context of 22,500 schools where for the vast, vast majority, certainly well above 95%, that won’t be the case.
“But in terms of the delivery of school rebuilding programmes, it’s averaged around 50 per year. Obviously, that comes with significant government funding. That is, we think, the right approach, with a rising amount of government funds set towards that in the coming years.”
The DfE was approached for comment.