Multi-million investment in school buildings

The government has revealed that academies and sixth form colleges can now bid for a share of more than £400 million to transform their facilities and improve their school buildings.

The annual fund can be used by academies and sixth form colleges to expand classrooms, upgrade facilities, such as sports halls or science labs, and address issues with the general wear and tear of school buildings. Applications will be subject to new criteria this year which will favour bids from schools with good governance and organised finances – including showing restraint on executive salaries.

The strengthened criteria for next year’s Condition Improvement Fund will incentivise academies and trusts to improve finances and governance. Bids are assessed on a point based criteria and applicants will get a four-point deduction if they pay two or more salaries in excess of £100,000 or one salary over £150,000, and have failed to take appropriate action in response to our high pay challenge.

Teaching unions have condemned the money available as woefully inadequate, pointing to 2017 research by the National Audit Office which calculated that it would cost £6.7 billion to return England’s schools to a satisfactory condition or better.

Among the critics, Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said that ‘it is unacceptable that, in the 21st century, so many children and young people go to schools which have Victorian conditions’.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This government is determined to give all children the best possible education, but as well as great teachers, we want all pupils to learn in classrooms that enable them to gain the knowledge and skills they need for success. Following our huge investment in school funding with an increase of a total of £14 billion over three years, this year’s multi-million-pound fund will support our pledge to create more good school places and continue raising standards.”