On 22 May 2023, the Department for Education announced over £450m investment to improve school buildings, saying 859 academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided schools will receive funding to improve their school buildings. This follows £1.1bn capital funding for local authorities, large multi-academy trusts and voluntary aided bodies announced in March.
RIBA have previously warned of the dangerous condition of England’s school estate.
In February 2023, RIBA President Simon Allford said: “With so many [school] buildings likely to be in need of overhaul, we hope to see the government seize the opportunity to invest in good design to ensure these vital community assets are fit for future generations. The school rebuilding programme – be it retrofit or repair – must address the climate emergency by ensuring funding supports sustainable design, delivering value for money, and improving educational outcomes.”
Responding to yesterday’s announcement, RIBA President Simon Allford said:
“England’s school estate remains in serious disrepair, so I am pleased to see this funding to make much-needed upgrades. However, after many years of funding falling in real terms, this only represents a small proportion of the amount needed.
Safety must be at the top of the agenda, but it is vital that investment also ensures that school buildings foster positive student engagement and support their communities. Whether retrofit or new build, we must deliver well-designed, energy efficient schools – architecture that guarantees that our schools are fit for future generations.
We would urge the Government to publish the Buildings Conditions Survey – so we can better understand the scale of the problem we face.”
Notes to editors:
- Media contact: Ruby.OShea@riba.org
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
