Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

School Building Conditions

21 September 2021 · 3 other contributors · 4,484 words

Opened by Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton

Responding minister: Robin Walker

EducationHousing

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Gwynne raised concerns about school building conditions in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Andrew Gwynne highlighted severe structural defects and health and safety risks at Russell Scott primary school, which was refurbished by Carillion in 2015 for 2.7 million.
  • Gwynne called for national government intervention to address the crisis, including a review of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council's independent surveys.
  • Gwynne asked for assurance on contingency plans if the building becomes unsafe, given the lack of capacity to accommodate nearly 500 pupils.

Key requests to Government

Gwynne called for national intervention from the Government to address the crisis at Russell Scott primary school and requested that officials review Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council's independent surveys. He also asked for assurance on contingency plans in case the building becomes unsafe, given the lack of capacity across local schools to accommodate nearly 500 pupils.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton

Andrew Gwynne highlighted the dangerous state of Russell Scott primary school in his constituency, which was refurbished by Carillion in 2015 at a cost of £2.7 million but now faces severe structural defects and health and safety risks. The school has experienced sewage leaks, flooding, damaged floors, leaking roofs, non-compliant fire doors, and contaminated playing fields due to waste dumping. Despite spending £670,000 on maintenance, the council cannot afford a total rebuild of around £10 million or repair works estimated at £5 million.

Other contributors (3)
  • Barry Sheerman Ind Ealing Central and Acton

    Asked if there is a way for the local authority or others to reclaim funds due to Carillion's failure to deliver on contracts. Asked about the Department's criteria for reputable contractors, suggesting a list of good and not-so-good contractors based on their track record.

  • Florence Eshalomi Lab Co-op Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

    Cited several primary schools in her constituency that require urgent refurbishment due to issues such as water damage. Emphasised the need for increased school capital funding as part of the Government's levelling-up agenda.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op York Central

    Described accessibility and construction challenges at All Saints Roman Catholic School in York, which is over 400 years old. Noted the high costs associated with refurbishing listed schools and suggested rebuilding them to meet contemporary needs. Inquired about All Saints school's progress after inspection following her meeting with Baroness Berridge, requesting an update on its inclusion in the capital funding programme.

Government Response

Robin Walker

It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Sir Gary. I congratulate Andrew Gwynne on securing this debate and speaking up for the school he attended. As Minister for School Standards, I recognise that well-maintained buildings are essential to support high-quality education. The Department does not directly own or manage schools but has an important stewardship role in supporting local authorities and academy trusts. We prioritise funding based on consistent data regarding the condition of schools across England. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council can no longer pursue Carillion for redress following its liquidation, but it has invested capital funding to address issues at a specific primary school. The council assured us that the school is currently safe and operational but faces ongoing challenges such as leaking roofs, uneven floors, inadequately installed fire doors, and drainage issues leading to flooding. I reassure Andrew Gwynne that the Government treats every school on a consistent basis regarding condition funding and rebuilding programmes. Six schools in Tameside have benefited from new or refurbished buildings through our priority school rebuilding programme. The council received £1.3 million in annual school condition allocation for 2021-22, with a total of £9.1 million over the past five years. We are consulting on how to prioritise schools for future rounds and expect opportunities for evidence of severe condition needs to be submitted. We also provide support through advice, tools, resources such as good estate management and guidance on managing asbestos. Additionally, we have allocated £11.3 billion in condition funding since 2015, including £1.8 billion in the financial year 2021-22. The Prime Minister announced a new school rebuilding programme last June with commitments to 500 projects over the next decade; this includes replacing poor condition and ageing buildings with modern facilities.

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