Half of England’s schools unfit due to leaks, mould and faulty toilets, poll finds

Half of headteachers say parts of their school are either out of use or unfit for purpose due to leaks, damp, mould, asbestos, ageing boilers and malfunctioning fire doors, according to a new survey by the National Association of Head Teachers(NAHT). Among those who say their schools are suffering, almost three-quarters (73%) say they have toilet blocks that are either closed (8%) or not fit for purpose (65%). “ I have toilets that urgently need replacement, and I do not have the funds to do so. There is a collapsed drain and every time it rains the playground is flooded,” one headteacher said. Two in five (41%) say facilities at their school reserved for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) , including dedicated classrooms, sensory rooms and outdoor spaces, are unfit for use. The findings come at a time when the government is proposing reforms to the Send system, which will require mainstream schools to expand and improve provision for children with special needs. Of those with buildings unfit for purpose, almost two-thirds (64%) say their playgrounds were unsuitable (56%) or closed (8%). “We have rooms that are closed to children, walls covered in mould, a leaking roof, sinking floorboards, unfit windows and a condemned playground,” said another head. The poll, though small with just 326 participants, provides a vivid picture of the problems facing headteachers with crumbling, outdated buildings. …