ADCS response: funding for school buildings and places

Steve Crocker, ADCS President, said:

“The investment in schools and colleges announced today is welcome. Significant underinvestment in the school estate in recent years has left school buildings dilapidated, and in some cases very unsafe according to the Department for Education’s own annual report. The safety of pupils and the staff working with them should be a priority for the government. £1.8bn is a reasonable starting point but significantly more capital funding will be required in the medium to long term to ensure all children and young people have safe learning environments.

“Additional investment to support councils to provide additional school places is welcome. The school system of the day is increasingly fragmented, local authorities are responsible for sufficiency in place planning, but we increasingly lack influence in the planning and establishment of new schools. To support local authorities to ensure every child has a school place in the areas they are needed, where new free schools are opened there must be better coordination with local need and priorities. “

ENDS

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