In a startling revelation, a Guardian investigation has uncovered that more than 1.5 million schoolchildren in England are studying in dilapidated, unfit school buildings. The extensive study, which analyzed public sector building conditions across the country, found that years of chronic underinvestment have left England’s educational infrastructure in a crumbling state, endangering the lives and well-being of students and staff.
The Scope of the Crisis
The Guardian’s groundbreaking investigation, which combined data from multiple government departments for the first time, paints a grim picture of the state of England’s schools:
- One in six schoolchildren are studying in schools that need major repairs or are in relatively poor condition
- Nearly half of those students are in buildings deemed unsafe or in need of major refurbishment
- In the Midlands, a staggering 30% of schools are either unsafe, aging, or have major defects
The findings suggest that the problems with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which led to the closure of over 100 schools last year, are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of school buildings across England are in urgent need of repair, with conditions so dire in many that they are putting the lives of students and staff at risk.
A School on the Brink of Collapse
The human impact of this infrastructure crisis is starkly illustrated by the case of a school in Cumbria that had to be evacuated because inspectors found the floor could collapse at any moment. Students and teachers were forced to flee the premises, their education and livelihoods disrupted by the building’s dangerous state of disrepair.
“Our school has been homeless for two years.”
—Evacuation at Cumbria school
This harrowing example is just one of many across the country, where students and educators are grappling with the consequences of years of neglect and underinvestment in the school system.
The Root of the Problem: Chronic Underfunding
Government ministers have acknowledged that the previous administration bears responsibility for chronically underspending on Britain’s public buildings, with departments regularly raiding their capital budgets to cover day-to-day expenses. This short-sighted approach has left a legacy of decay and deterioration that will require significant investment to rectify.
“Proper maintenance of public buildings cannot continue to be seen as a non-urgent matter of leaky roofs and drafty rooms. Far from an abstract issue, these are problems of the gravest concern that can cause snowballing additional costs.”
—Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Conservative chair of the public accounts committee
Experts also point to poor project management as a contributing factor, with several government departments failing to spend the money they have been allocated for building maintenance. This combination of chronic underfunding and inefficient use of resources has created a perfect storm, leaving England’s schools in a state of disrepair that threatens the safety and well-being of students and staff.
The Urgent Need for Action
The Guardian’s investigation has sparked calls for immediate action to address the crisis in England’s schools. With 1.5 million children studying in unfit buildings, the stakes could not be higher. The government must prioritize substantial investments in school infrastructure to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff and to provide an environment conducive to learning and growth.
“Significant further investment and improvements to how this money is spent are required in the spending review if meaningfully progress is to be made over the course of this parliament.”
—Nick Davies, Institute for Government
The recent budget announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which changed fiscal rules to allow for increased borrowing for capital spending, offers a glimmer of hope. However, much more will be needed to address the scale and urgency of the crisis facing England’s schools.
As the nation grapples with the shocking revelations about the state of its educational infrastructure, one thing is clear: the time for action is now. The government must rise to the challenge and invest in the future of England’s children by providing safe, modern, and well-maintained schools for all. The cost of inaction is simply too high to bear.
