Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

School Buildings

Monday 16 January 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Minister announced further 239 schools to benefit from rebuilding and refurbishment projects as part of a programme to transform 500 schools.
  • My Department is collaborating with heritage and planning officers to address the condition of Smithdon High School, considering its listed status.
  • The school rebuilding programme directly commissions projects rather than providing funding to schools, focusing on their condition improvement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sara Britcliffe
Education
Context

The MP inquired about the steps being taken to improve school buildings across the country.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to improve school buildings. In December, the Minister announced a further 239 schools that will benefit from large-scale rebuilding and refurbishment projects as part of our school rebuilding programme, which will transform 500 schools across the country. The MP welcomed this progress but sought more information on the specifics.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

In December, I announced a further 239 schools that will benefit from large-scale rebuilding and refurbishment projects as part of our school rebuilding programme, which will transform 500 schools across the country. We have allocated more than £13 billion to improving school buildings since 2015, including £1.8 billion this year.

Answered
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Q2 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Education
Context

Smithdon High School in North West Norfolk was included in the school rebuilding programme and faces challenges due to its grade II* listed status.

Question

I welcome the recent addition of the King Edward VII Academy to the school rebuilding programme, following the inclusion of Smithdon High School in an earlier round. Given Smithdon's grade II* listed status and the complexity that it brings, can my right hon. Friend assure me that funding for the school is protected? Will Ministers meet me to ensure that we get the heritage and other permissions we need as rapidly as possible?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

My Department is working closely with heritage and planning officers to ensure that we can address the condition of Smithdon High School as quickly as possible, while recognising the listed status of the buildings. We are working on the project with Historic England and the Twentieth Century Society, and we would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend and provide an update on progress.

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Q3 Sara Britcliffe
Education
Context

Hyndburn Academy and Haslingden High School were included in the next round of the school rebuilding programme, raising questions about wider community benefits.

Question

In Hyndburn and Haslingden, we received the fantastic news just before Christmas that the Hyndburn Academy and Haslingden High School will be included in the next round of the school rebuilding programme. I eagerly await the next round so that schools in my patch, such as The Hollins, can apply. Can my right hon. Friend confirm whether school rebuilding programme funding can be used, in conjunction with other investment, for initiatives that benefit not only the school but the wider community?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I thank my hon. Friend for her excellent question. We encourage schools to play a positive role in their community, and many choose to provide access to sports and other facilities. The school rebuilding programme directly commissions projects rather than providing funding to schools, so, where feasible, we include additional facilities beyond the scope of a project, if it is funded by the local trust or the local authority.

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Q4 Valerie Vaz Lab Walsall and Bloxwich
Education
Context

The MP had a meeting with the heads of Joseph Leckie and Blue Coat Church of England Academies but was informed they did not succeed in obtaining funds.

Question

The Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Nick Gibb), visited Joseph Leckie Academy, which really helped, and I had a good meeting with the heads of Joseph Leckie and Blue Coat Church of England Academies along with my friend the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr Walker). However, the schools still lost out. Will the Secretary of State, or one of her Ministers, meet those two heads and me to find out why on earth they cannot succeed in obtaining funds for vital repairs?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Obviously some schools are disappointed that they did not have access to those funds. We have announced funding for 400 schools so far and a further 100 will be included in future rounds, but we would be happy to meet the right hon. Lady.

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Q5 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
NHS Education
Context

A Schools Week investigation found that at least 40 schools contained so-called aero-concrete, while 150 more needed further investigation.

Question

A Schools Week investigation found that at least 40 schools contained so-called aero-concrete, while 150 more needed further investigation. Officials described the concrete as “life-expired and liable to collapse”, which is extremely alarming. NHS England says that it will take until 2035 to remove aero-concrete from all our hospitals; will we be waiting as long as that for it to be removed from our schools?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Last year the Government published updated guidance on identifying and managing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. In March 2022, all schools were asked to complete a questionnaire about their knowledge of RAAC and its presence in their buildings and asking how, if they had it, they were managing it. We help schools where its presence is confirmed by providing the appropriate technical support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: timeline for removal

How: Provided Guidance, Questionnaire

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