Commenting on the publication of the government’s Education Estates Strategy: a decade of national renewal (1), Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The publication of the Education Estates Strategy should not be allowed to overshadow the Education Select Committee’s report, also out today, which casts successive governments in a poor light. (2)
“Although there are many welcome elements in the government’s strategy document, shockingly there is not one single mention of asbestos, despite the deadly substance being present in 80 per cent of schools. We urge the Government to stop playing fast and loose with the lives of children and staff and make asbestos removal a priority.
“Minister Gould's announcement this morning that every secondary school will have a SEND resource base funded by £3.7bn capital is welcome (3) but buildings alone do not make inclusion. The resource bases need sufficient funding for appropriately qualified staff, resources and access to specialists. Without this they are simply buildings and will do little to improve the experiences and life chances of SEND young people."
Editor’s Note
- Education Estates Strategy: a decade of national renewal, published 11 February 2026
- Foundations of Learning: replacing RAAC and securing school buildings, published 11 February 2026
- Education Estates Strategy - see chapter 4, pp27/28