Government Launches Decade-Long School Renewal Strategy
The Department for Education has announced a transformative 10-year plan to overhaul the nation's school and college buildings, ending what it calls a cycle of "sticking-plaster repairs" to deteriorating classrooms. This ambitious Education Estates Strategy promises to deliver high-quality, future-proof learning environments for hundreds of thousands of children and young people across the country.
Ending the Patch-and-Mend Approach
For years, millions have been spent on temporary fixes for aging school infrastructure that fails to meet modern educational needs. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled the strategy on Wednesday, February 11, declaring it marks a turning point in how school buildings are maintained and improved.
"For too long, schools and colleges have been forced to patch and mend buildings that have already deteriorated," Phillipson stated. "This 10-year plan breaks that cycle with a decade of national renewal."
The strategy is backed by substantial financial commitments, including an additional £1 billion specifically for the education estate, part of broader capital investment totaling £38 billion from 2025-26 to 2029-30 – described as the highest since 2010.
Inclusion Bases for Every Secondary School
A central component of the strategy involves ensuring every secondary school will eventually have an inclusion base – dedicated safe spaces away from mainstream classrooms where pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can access targeted support.
These spaces, sometimes known as SEN units or pupil support units, bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist provision. The government will provide new guidance for schools on converting existing spaces into effective areas for children with SEND, whether through additional construction or repurposing of current facilities like spare classrooms.
This initiative builds on existing investments including £200 million for specialist teacher training and the creation of tens of thousands of new SEND places nationwide.
Comprehensive Building Improvements
The estates strategy includes several targeted programs to address specific infrastructure challenges:
- Renewal and Retrofit Programme: Over £700 million to fix leaky roofs, repair broken heating systems, and protect schools from flooding, potentially extending building lifespans by 15 to 40 years.
- Connect the Classroom: £300 million to tackle the digital divide and ensure classrooms can support modern teaching technology.
- Climate Resilience: Making buildings resilient to climate change impacts like flooding and overheating.
These measures aim to prevent school closures like the over 40 reported last year due to building issues.
Support from Education Leaders
Georgina Ellis, Executive Director for SEND at Unity Schools Partnership, welcomed the commitment: "We welcome any investment to improve inclusivity for local SEND children. Our Trust has seen great outcomes in attendance, attainment, and belonging through inclusion bases."
Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, added: "It is good the Government has set out a plan to improve the education estate. Greater inclusion in mainstream schools needs to be central to reforming the SEND system."
A Vision for the Future
The 10-year strategy represents more than just building improvements. As Phillipson emphasized: "This is about breaking down barriers to opportunity. Every child deserves to learn in a safe, accessible environment with the right facilities to meet their needs."
The plan aims to create schools that are not only fit for purpose and resilient to future challenges but fundamentally built on the principle of mainstream inclusion – where every child, regardless of needs, can succeed in their local school.
