​The department’s new school Condition Data Collection (CDC), due to complete this year, will provide a high-level assessment of the make-up and condition of state funded schools in England, and help inform future capital funding policy.

The department has issued information and guidance on the purpose, benefits and limitations of the CDC, which has been attached and can be viewed at:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/652218/Condition_Data_Collection_CDC_Purpose_Benefit__and_Limitations.pdf.

The Department expects that the free schools route will be the main route for establishing new schools in England. Where local authorities identify the need for a new school, section 6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 requires them to seek proposals to establish a free school.

However, it remains possible for proposers to publish proposals for a new local authority maintained school at any time in a limited set of circumstances.

The table attached sets out the number of new provision local authority maintained schools established compared to the number of free schools, since the 2015/16 academic year[1].

There is one foundation school proposed to open in 2019/20 and 284 pipeline free schools.

On 29 May 2019, the Department announced the outcome of the first round of the Voluntary Aided Capital Scheme, which gave in-principle agreement for the Department to fund the establishment of a new voluntary aided school. The Department also placed two further bids on hold whilst we work with the proposers to identify a suitable site for their proposed school. The successful proposer will now need to follow the statutory process for establishing a new maintained school. The local authority will be responsible for making the final decision as to whether to approve the school.

[1] This data is taken from Get Information about Schools (GIAS). Responsibility for updating GIAS is shared between the Department, local authorities and schools and is continuously updated. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the data. This data includes schools whose reason for opening is listed as ‘new provision’ on GIAS. The Ofsted definition of a mainstream maintained state school does not include nursery provision, special schools or alternative provision.

Local authorities are required, through their local school funding formulae, to provide schools with sufficient funds to enable schools to meet the additional cost of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), up to the value of £6,000. This funding comes from the schools block of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

When the costs of additional support required for a pupil with SEND exceed £6,000, the local authority should also allocate additional top up funding to cover the excess costs. This top-up funding, and funding for special schools, comes from the local authority’s high needs budget. In December 2018, we announced an additional £250 million in high needs funding across the current financial year and the next. Barnsley council is receiving £23.2 million for high needs this year, including its share of the £250 million, which amounted to £1.1 million.

In 2013, the schools and high needs budgets within the Dedicated Schools Grant were created. As the Dedicated Schools Grant includes other budgets such as the early years budget, the department is unable to provide comparable figures before 2013-14.

The schools and high needs allocations for the Yorkshire and the Humber and Barnsley regions since 2013-14 are set out in the below tables:

Yorkshire and the Humber

Local authorities are required, through their local school funding formulae, to provide schools with sufficient funds to enable schools to meet the additional cost of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), up to the value of £6,000. This funding comes from the schools block of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

When the costs of additional support required for a pupil with SEND exceed £6,000, the local authority should also allocate additional top up funding to cover the excess costs. This top-up funding, and funding for special schools, comes from the local authority’s high needs budget. In December 2018, we announced an additional £250 million in high needs funding across the current financial year and the next. Barnsley council is receiving £23.2 million for high needs this year, including its share of the £250 million, which amounted to £1.1 million.

In 2013, the schools and high needs budgets within the Dedicated Schools Grant were created. As the Dedicated Schools Grant includes other budgets such as the early years budget, the department is unable to provide comparable figures before 2013-14.

The schools and high needs allocations for the Yorkshire and the Humber and Barnsley regions since 2013-14 are set out in the below tables:

Yorkshire and the Humber

The £10 million investment announced on 4 May 2019, will enable schools to share best practice on behaviour and classroom management. Behaviour support networks will be made up of schools that have exemplary behaviour management practices and effective whole-school cultures. They will work with other schools offering advice on ways to better manage behaviour using measures that have been effective in successful schools.

Decisions on where these networks will be set up will be via an open application process to recruit suitable lead schools who can demonstrate their behaviour expertise and capacity to work with a small group of other schools to improve. The Department will provide more detail on the application process in the autumn term to enable the first behaviour support networks to be in place for September 2020.

The £10 million investment announced on 4 May 2019, will enable schools to share best practice on behaviour and classroom management. Behaviour support networks will be made up of schools that have exemplary behaviour management practices and effective whole-school cultures. They will work with other schools offering advice on ways to better manage behaviour using measures that have been effective in successful schools.

Decisions on where these networks will be set up will be via an open application process to recruit suitable lead schools who can demonstrate their behaviour expertise and capacity to work with a small group of other schools to improve. The Department will provide more detail on the application process in the autumn term to enable the first behaviour support networks to be in place for September 2020.

The Department takes the safety of pupils, staff and visitors to schools very seriously.

The Department has not determined the cost to the public purse of removing asbestos from the entire school estate, as the decision to remove asbestos is made on a case by case basis.

Expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive is that if asbestos is unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, then it is best managed in situ. The Department is clear that if asbestos does pose a safety risk and cannot be effectively managed in situ, then it should be removed from schools.

Since 2015, the Department has allocated over £7.4 billion to those responsible for school buildings to maintain and improve the school estate, including removing asbestos when it is the safest course of action. In addition to this, asbestos is a factor in choosing which buildings to re-build through the Priority School Building Programme.

The Department started to collect data on asbestos management in schools in 2016. All state-funded schools in England were invited to participate in the voluntary data collection and 25% responded. In February 2017, the findings were published in a report on GOV.UK. Of those taking part, 83% reported that asbestos was present in their school estate. It should be noted, however, that as this was only a proportion of state-funded schools, the responses may not be representative of all schools. The report does not provide information at local level.

In March 2018, the Department launched a second data collection, the Asbestos Management Assurance Process. This was launched to help develop a more comprehensive understanding of asbestos management in the school estate. This data collection has just closed and responses are being analysed. The Department intends to publish the findings from this report in spring 2019.

To help local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts to meet their legal duties and manage asbestos effectively, the Department refers to advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and also published 'Asbestos Management in Schools' guidance, in February 2017. The HSE advice is clear that if asbestos is unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, then it is best managed in situ. Although, the Department is also clear that when asbestos does pose a risk to safety and cannot be effectively managed in situ, it should be removed.

Since 2015, the Department has allocated £6 billion to those responsible for school buildings, for essential maintenance and improvements, including removing or encapsulating asbestos when it is the safest course of action to do so. In addition, through the Priority School Building Programme, the Department is rebuilding or refurbishing buildings in the worst condition in over 500 schools across the country. Asbestos was a factor in selecting buildings for the programme.

The Department takes the safety of pupils, staff and visitors to schools very seriously. The decision to remove asbestos from schools is made on a case by case basis.

Expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive is clear that, as long as asbestos-containing materials are undamaged, and not in locations where they are vulnerable to damage, they are best managed in situ. The Department is clear that when asbestos cannot be effectively managed in situ, it should be removed or encapsulated. The Department provides significant condition funding which can be used for this purpose.

Since 2015, the Department has allocated £6 billion to those responsible for maintaining and improving the condition of school buildings, including removing or encapsulating asbestos when it is the safest course of action to do so. This funding is delivered through different routes depending on their size and type.

Local authorities and larger multi academy trusts receive a School Condition Allocation and it is for them to prioritise investment across the schools for which they are responsible. Smaller, or stand-alone academy trusts and sixth form colleges have access to the Condition Improvement Fund. In addition, the Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing school buildings in the worst condition across England, covering over 500 schools. Asbestos was a factor when selecting buildings for the programme.

Local authorities and academy trusts are responsible for their own contracts. Information available to the Department indicates that the number of local authority and academy trust schools covered by catering contracts with Interserve subsidiaries, is relatively low.

As Interserve has stated publicly, its business will continue to operate as normal for customers and suppliers. The operating companies of Interserve have not entered administration and will be unaffected. As a result, public services (including school meals) will continue without disruption or impact on jobs.

The Government attaches the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff. All schools have to follow strict fire safety regulations, including having a fire risk assessment designed to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.

Sprinklers must be fitted where they are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe, following an assessment of risk at the design stage, or to meet local planning requirements. All new school building projects must comply with building regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by building control or an approved inspector before buildings are occupied.

The number of new schools built by the Department under the Priority Schools Building Programme and free schools programme by February 2019, was 673. Sprinklers are fitted in 105 of these schools.

On 8 March 2019, the Department issued a call for evidence on its technical guidance, ‘Building Bulletin 100 - Design for fire safety in schools’. The call for evidence is the first stage in a public consultation process, working with technical experts and key stakeholders, to revise and update the guidance.

The Government attaches the highest priority to the safety of pupils and staff. All schools have to follow strict fire safety regulations, including having a fire risk assessment designed to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.

Sprinklers must be fitted where they are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe, following an assessment of risk at the design stage, or to meet local planning requirements. All new school building projects must comply with building regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by building control or an approved inspector before buildings are occupied.

The majority of schools in the Priority Schools Building Programme phase 2 are still in the design phase and consideration is still being given to sprinkler systems. Of the 36 schools currently open, three have sprinkler systems.

On 8 March 2019, the Department issued a call for evidence on its technical guidance, ‘Building Bulletin 100 - Design for fire safety in schools’. The call for evidence is the first stage in a public consultation process, working with technical experts and key stakeholders, to revise and update the guidance.

The attached table provides the full-time equivalent number (FTE) of teaching assistants and support staff in state funded nursery/primary and secondary schools in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and England in each November, 2011 to 2017.

South Yorkshire includes Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities.

Comparable information for 2010 is not held centrally.

The attached table provides the full-time equivalent number (FTE) of teaching assistants and support staff in state funded nursery/primary and secondary schools in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and England in each November, 2011 to 2017.

South Yorkshire includes Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities.

Comparable information for 2010 is not held centrally.

The attached table provides the full-time equivalent number (FTE) of teaching assistants and support staff in state funded nursery/primary and secondary schools in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and England in each November, 2011 to 2017.

South Yorkshire includes Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities.

Comparable information for 2010 is not held centrally.

The attached table provides the full-time equivalent number (FTE) of teaching assistants and support staff in state funded nursery/primary and secondary schools in South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and England in each November, 2011 to 2017.

South Yorkshire includes Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities.

Comparable information for 2010 is not held centrally.