Thirty-nine schools closed in three years due to unsafe buildings

Thirty-nine schools have closed temporarily or permanently since December 2019 because one or more of their buildings have been deemed unsafe.

This information was given in an answer to a Parliamentary written question from Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munria Wilson, which was answered by schools minister Nick Gibb.

This was due to a range of reasons, including structural concerns and general condition issues, such as roofing and boiler failures.

Of the 31 schools that temporarily closed, 23 were full closures and 8 were partial closures. Of the 8 schools that permanently closed, 3 were full closures and 5 were partial closures. Where schools have closed, pupils have been relocated to existing spaces available on the school site or into alternative accommodation until a long-term solution is in place.

The government has been under pressure to address the issue of school buildings in a poor state, after the DfE escalated its own risk level of school buildings collapsing to “very likely” in its annual report and accounts last year.

In Gibb's answer, he also said that "responsibility for ensuring the safety and condition of school buildings lies with the responsible bodies, such as Local Authorities, trusts and voluntary aided bodies."