Half of England's schools unfit due to leaks, mould and faulty toilets, poll finds

"Half of headteachers say parts of their school are either out of use or unfit for purpose due to leaks, damp, mould, asbestos, ageing boilers and malfunctioning fire doors. Among those who say their schools are suffering, almost three-quarters (73%) say they have toilet blocks that are either closed (8%) or not fit for purpose (65%)."

"Two in five (41%) say facilities at their school reserved for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), including dedicated classrooms, sensory rooms and outdoor spaces, are unfit for use. The findings come at a time when the government is proposing reforms to the Send system."

"Almost all of the headteachers who took part (96%) said they did not receive sufficient capital funding to maintain their school's buildings. The National Audit Office has said it will cost 14bn to restore school buildings in England."

A survey by the National Association of Head Teachers reveals that half of headteachers find parts of their schools unusable due to issues like leaks, damp, and mould. Nearly 73% report toilet blocks that are either closed or unfit for purpose. Additionally, 41% indicate that facilities for children with special educational needs are inadequate. Many headteachers express concerns over non-compliant fire doors and malfunctioning boilers. Almost all participants feel they lack sufficient funding for building maintenance, with the National Audit Office estimating a £14 billion cost to restore school buildings in England.

Read at www.theguardian.com