Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making it compulsory for all schools to have sprinklers installed.

The Government takes the safety of pupils and teachers very seriously. All schools have to follow strict fire safety regulations, including having a Fire Risk Assessment, designed to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.

All new school building projects must comply with Building Regulations, including on fire safety, and this is independently certified by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied. Where sprinklers are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe, following an assessment of risk at the design stage, or to meet local planning requirements, they should be fitted.

Following the tragic Grenfell fire, the government has launched a Public Inquiry and an independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. Alongside the rest of Government, we will take forward any relevant recommendations.