Teachers in England continue to report widespread problems with
the condition of classrooms in a survey carried out by Teacher
Tapp for the Association of School and College Leaders.
These include more than a half who say classrooms are too hot in
the summer because of poor ventilation, and more than a quarter
who say they are too cold in the winter because of inadequate
heating systems. Around one in five report broken windows or
doors, and more than 10% have leaking ceilings.
Pepe Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “Large parts of the school estate are in a
shocking condition because of years of underinvestment by the
previous government. Schools and colleges simply don't have the
money to make the repairs and refurbishments that are necessary.
This isn't just about bricks and mortar but about ensuring that
children are in suitable learning environments rather than
shivering their way through the winter and being overheated in
the summer.
“It's staggering that a recent National Audit Office report found
that the maintenance backlog
across the education estate requires an eye-watering sum of
£13.8bn to address. We recognise that this isn't going to happen
overnight, but the government must begin making some inroads into
this backlog or school and college buildings will just continue
to crumble and the cost of fixing them will get more and more
expensive.”
The survey findings come as Chancellor is set to make her spring
statement in the House of Commons today (Wednesday 26 March)
ahead of the publication of her multi-year spending review in
June.
The Department for Education requested £4 billion per
year for capital funding between 2021 and 2025 but the
Treasury allocated £3.1 billion – a total shortfall of £3.6
billion during that period. ASCL is calling on the Treasury to
restore this lost capital expenditure.
ASCL is also calling on the government to:
- Eradicate the deficits in local authority budgets for special
educational needs provision – estimated to be £4.6 billion by
next March – to ensure all money gets to the frontline.
- Provide an additional £650 million to enable all schools to
cover cost pressures next year.
- Provide an additional £200 million to maintain real-terms
spending per student in colleges.
Mr Di'Iasio said: “We're conscious that the national financial
situation is tight but all we are asking for is enough money to
keep things going without having to make further cuts. These
aren't extravagant requests but basic necessities. We think
that's what parents have every right to expect.”
A poll of more than 9,000 teachers and leaders in state-funded
schools conducted at the end of February asked the question:
“Thinking of the classroom you taught in most recently, which of
the following are true?” The results were:
