Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure the (a) safety and (b) suitability of older school buildings.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

Responsibility for keeping school buildings safe and well-maintained lies with those with responsibility for managing the school estate, which includes local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts. The department provides support through capital funding, delivering major rebuilding programmes and offering guidance and support.

In April 2024, the department published guidance on typical construction types used in the school estate to help building users, owners and maintenance staff prioritise future maintenance and repair of their buildings. In December 2024 we commissioned research to better understand future issues that could present themselves as the school and college estate ages, focusing on post-war building construction.

The department has regular discussions with relevant professional bodies and leading material specialists to share information on any emerging risks regarding the safety of all building types in the school estate.