A lack of adequate assessment has resulted in various problems, such as refurbishment projects exceeding budgets by millions of pounds. And now, numerous state schools are left with deteriorating buildings in their hands, following the termination of the Building Schools for the Future program in 2010.
The UK government failed to carry out essential surveys, including asbestos and concrete assessments, before acquiring sites for its free schools program, according to an investigation by national media.
Launched in 2010, the free schools program aimed to transform education in England by allowing various groups to establish schools in existing buildings. However, documents revealed that, in some cases, government agencies hurriedly purchased unsuitable disused buildings without conducting necessary surveys.
The lack of proper assessment has led to several issues, including refurbishment projects exceeding their budgets by millions of pounds. Many existing state schools have also struggled with deteriorating buildings following the termination of the Building Schools for the Future program in 2010.
For instance, the purchase of a derelict Royal Mail sorting office to house Northampton International Academy cost over £40 million due to unforeseen issues stemming from insufficient survey work.
Despite the substantial investment, the academy recently had to close its top floor as a precautionary measure after being included in the list of schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete issues. The top floor consisted of 18 classrooms.
Red flags
Local officials, such as Labour Councilor Danielle Stone in Northampton, have raised concerns about the suitability of such buildings, particularly in areas known for social issues. Stone said no proper survey had been conducted on the concrete, despite the well-known risks associated with buildings from the 1960s and 1970s.
Critics, including consultant Tim Warneford and campaigner Andy Jolley, have also decried the government’s approach, emphasizing the lack of leverage to negotiate prices once a site is acquired. They argued that the government’s failure to conduct proper detailed surveys before purchasing buildings has resulted in significant financial consequences.
In another instance, the Education Funding Agency purchased a former air traffic control training site near Bournemouth airport without conducting detailed surveys beforehand.
While the agency and the Department for Education declined to disclose information about many schools, it was revealed that at least 10 free schools were acquired without detailed asbestos surveys.
Official response
The government agency defended its actions, citing practicality as a reason for not conducting full surveys before taking possession of a site.
A spokesperson from the Department for Education reiterated their commitment to acquiring safe and affordable sites for free schools, with due diligence conducted by technical experts before acquisition, including risk assessments.
