Investment in preventive maintenance and improvement of school buildings had been neglected in many local authorities throughout the 1980s and most of the 1990s. Schools began to pay the price for this situation, as building elements came to the end of their life cycle and problems with leaking roofs, failing heating systems, deteriorating temporary buildings and external woodwork accumulated. In some schools these problems reached crisis level during the 1990s.
Since 1997 the Government has substantially increased capital investment in new and refurbished school buildings. Pupils, parents and staff are benefiting from the improved quality of many school buildings. The framework for asset management planning is also improving the information that is recorded about school buildings and, hence, the ability of local education authorities (LEAs) and schools to plan and use the increased investment wisely.
This report aims to review the impact of the changes that have taken place over the last five years and to stimulate debate about policy challenges for the future. It is targeted primarily at policymakers and practitioners in local and central government. In addition, there are issues for headteachers and administrative staff in schools who have increased responsibility for the condition of school buildings.
The primary focus of the report is on the impact of education asset management planning on the condition and suitability of school buildings and on the quality of local authority property services.