Over 200,000 school building issues identified across England

More than 200,000 school building elements across England are now classed as deteriorating or at risk of failure, according to a new FOI dataset gathered and analysed by Portakabin.

The data was collected from local authorities. It graded over 181,000 elements as being in poor condition. The research also revealed that more than 22,000 elements have reached end of life or require urgent replacement.

These more serious categories included ageing roofs, decaying brickwork, poor thermal performance, outdated heating systems and ageing electrical installations. All of which can increase running costs and impact day to day learning environments.

Brendan Cornick, head of health, safety and environmental at Portakabin, said:

“The volume of Grade C and D level issues suggests that there are a huge number of school buildings operating beyond their intended life in England.

“We made this FOI request to understand the condition of school estates nationally, and what we found points to widespread deterioration across the system, not isolated cases.”

Regional analysis of school building conditions

Regionally, the North East has the highest proportion of serious issues. However, London records the highest number of the most severe cases.

Brendan points out:

“Each region has much more than 1,000 Grade D level issues though. Just one Grade D level issue should be a cause for concern, as it highlights a severe problem that most likely requires urgent attention so that a school building remains safe and structurally sound.”

What the data means for students in England

The data implies that many students are learning in school buildings designed for outdated energy conditions and teaching demands, instead of the ones suitable for today’s requirements.

Brendan explains:

“When pupils are studying in ageing buildings, they are usually based in classrooms that will be performing poorly in terms of temperature control, insulation and ventilation.

“These ongoing maintenance demands can ripple across the entire school, reducing funds for digital upgrades, accessibility, student services, and even the ability to create stable, future-focused learning environments.”

The appeal of modular school buildings and classrooms

Portakabin encourages those in charge of updating school buildings to look towards modular buildings to make swift but effective alterations.

Modular classrooms and school buildings can be easily and quickly integrated into existing infrastructure, or they can serve as the foundation for a completely new development. Modular buildings can house any type of facility that an education provider may need. This could be standard classrooms, sound-proof music rooms, spacious lecture theatres or specialist laboratories and sports halls.

Portakabin manufactures its modular buildings off site before transporting it to a school’s location for installation. This means there will be less disruption or concerns about students’ safety than there would be if a traditional construction site was put in place around an educational establishment during the building work.

Simon Pollard, manufacturing director at Portakabin, adds:

“When it comes to both permanent and temporary Portakabin relocatable classrooms, quality is guaranteed by the fact these structures are designed to meet or even exceed Department for Education guidelines. They are constructed to meet the industry’s permanent building regulations as well.

“All in all, modular classrooms offer a faster, safer and more sustainable way to refresh the school estate and provide children with modern spaces to learn.”

Building on this commitment to creating safe, adaptable and future-ready learning environments, Portakabin is also bringing education leaders and estates professionals together for a special industry event.

Taking place on Thursday, 11 June at Global Academy in London, this half-day session will explore how schools and colleges can build resilience, respond to critical incidents, and adapt to rising SEND demand.

Featuring a keynote address from Jo Marchant MBE, attendees will gain practical insights, expert perspectives and valuable networking opportunities. Scan the QR code for more details and to secure your place.