Commenting on The Secretary of State for Education’s announcement
that £450 million will be available for the Condition Improvement
Fund (CIF) for schools in 2024-25, Dr Patrick Roach,
General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:
“After fourteen years of this complacent Government , school
estates are crumbling, with some rated by the Department for
Education as at risk of collapse. This same Department approves
just 30% of school bids for the CIF. It appears that only the
most urgent of bids is successful, and only when the schools
themselves can stump up a proportion of the costs.
“It is unacceptable to leave some 70% of eligible schools with
broken boilers, disintegrating roofs and faulty fire doors. These
schools should not have to jump through hoops for funding – it
should be readily available in order to keep children and
teachers safe.
“The National Audit Office estimates that over £11 billion is
needed to repair the school estate. The Government’s announcement
is barely scratching the surface of the repairs required.
“Schools are already struggling and should not be forced into
more closure days, temporary classrooms and site moves because
the Government refuses to allocate appropriate funding for
repairs.
”Children and young people deserve a government that is willing
to build them a future. That future starts with the building of
world-class schools.”
