Commenting on The Secretary of State for Education’s announcement that £450 million will be available for the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for schools in 2024-25, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:

“After fourteen years of this complacent Government , school estates are crumbling, with some rated by the Department for Education as at risk of collapse. This same Department approves just 30% of school bids for the CIF. It appears that only the most urgent of bids is successful, and only when the schools themselves can stump up a proportion of the costs.

“It is unacceptable to leave some 70% of eligible schools with broken boilers, disintegrating roofs and faulty fire doors. These schools should not have to jump through hoops for funding – it should be readily available in order to keep children and teachers safe.

“The National Audit Office estimates that over £11 billion is needed to repair the school estate. The Government’s announcement is barely scratching the surface of the repairs required.

“Schools are already struggling and should not be forced into more closure days, temporary classrooms and site moves because the Government refuses to allocate appropriate funding for repairs.

”Children and young people deserve a government that is willing to build them a future. That future starts with the building of world-class schools.”