Sustainability key to addressing education safety issues and driving economic growth in 2025

A recent report from The Guardian has found that more than 1.5m schoolchildren are studying in deteriorating buildings, following years of underinvestment in England’s public infrastructure. 

Findings show that thousands of public sector buildings including education and healthcare which urgently need repairing, with conditions endangering the lives of the individuals using them. 

Richard Lewis, partner and national head of further education, skills and academies at RSM UK, said: “The future of the education sector rests on investment in sustainability and government needs to act now to ensure safety of children and young people and prevent closures. Collapsed ceilings, asbestos and leaks are significant health and safety risks not just in schools but across the entire education sector. Despite government allocating £15bn over the last 10 years to bring school buildings into good working order, there’s much more to do to improve building safety in education. 

“We often see education organisations address external safety concerns such as cladding. While buildings may look attractive from the outside, without further investment from government to tackle internal safety issues, it’s an accident waiting to happen. Investment in sustainable building and refurbishments will ensure resilience and safety, providing continuity in education. But there are many other benefits, such as better air quality, ventilation and lighting – all which are conducive to better learning, health and wellbeing. There are also financial advantages to investing in sustainable buildings, which are more efficient and over time reduce operating costs, allowing more attention on teaching and learning resources.” 

He added: “It’s encouraging that government has now committed to immediate action to resolve these safety issues in the public sector, which are holding education providers back from realising the positive impact they have on communities. This is especially important following the launch of Skills England, with further education college providers playing a key role in delivering education which aligns with the country’s skills needs and drives sustainable economic growth.”