Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that contracts his Department awards to third parties for the construction of new schools provide that those buildings are (a) safe, (b) high quality and (c) environmentally sustainable.

The department has procured bespoke frameworks for delivering school building projects. These frameworks, and the contracts they use, are designed to deliver high quality education buildings economically and efficiently, and to ensure the highest standards are met. Contractors undergo a rigorous selection and quality evaluation process before they are admitted to the frameworks and performance is monitored throughout the life of the frameworks.

All department delivered projects adopt the department’s regularly updated design and construction standards (Output Specification), which reflect the latest safety, quality and environmental standards. The most recent update, in November 2021, includes multiple safety-related improvements, including new fire safety standards.

This new specification is the first to require net zero carbon in operation outcomes as well as a range of climate adaption measures such as green roofs, energy generation and increased biodiversity targets.

The department’s centrally delivered schemes are further supported by both internal and external subject matter experts in a wide range of disciplines, including legal, design, technical, cost and quality.

Additionally, contractors must also comply with all relevant health and safety legislation during the construction process, and completion requirements include that new school buildings must be signed off as compliant with the building regulations by an independent inspector before they can open.

The latest version of the Output Specification can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/school-design-and-construction#output-specification.