Managing Aging School Buildings: Risks and Responsibilities

The condition of a school’s buildings is no longer an operational detail; it is a governance issue that directly reflects leadership accountability and risk oversight.

The UK’s school estate is a cornerstone of public education and community life, yet it faces a strategic infrastructure challenge that extends far beyond routine maintenance. Building portfolios largely constructed in the post-war boom now show systemic deterioration, with substantial implications for safety, operational continuity, financial planning, and educational outcomes. School leaders and governing bodies must therefore move from reactive facility fixes to evidence-based asset stewardship.

Critical Risk Profile: Safety, Health, and Compliance

The Department for Education (DfE) and National Audit Office (NAO) classify the condition of school buildings as a “critical risk” due to potential structural failures and hazardous materials like reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Around 700,000 pupils are in schools requiring major rebuilding or refurbishment—a figure demonstrating the scale of risk exposure to occupants and operations.

Recent union surveys further illustrate the human cost: educators have reported widespread leaks, mould, extreme temperatures, vermin, and other decay across school facilities, which directly undermine health and well-being.

From a compliance perspective, school estate managers must align with statutory safety requirements and non-statutory guidance such as Good Estate Management for Schools to prioritise condition surveys and risk assessments of structural fabric, mechanical systems, asbestos, fire safety, and utilities.

Beyond Safety: Strategic Outcomes and Educational Equity

The physical condition of a school is more than an operational issue—it’s a strategic determinant of educational quality. International research links poor facility conditions to lower attendance, reduced engagement, and diminished academic performance, particularly in disadvantaged communities where older facilities are more common.

For executive teams and trustees, this means infrastructure planning must be embedded into institutional success metrics. Investments in building quality are not ancillary; they are core to sustaining reputation, enrolment, and outcomes. Data-driven condition assessments—and the integration of digital monitoring technologies—allow leaders to shift from episodic repairs to predictive maintenance ecosystems that reduce long-term risk and cost.

Without a data-driven estate strategy, schools are forced into reactive decisions that prioritise urgency over value, and crisis over continuity.

Fiscal Imperatives and Asset Management

School estates are long-lived assets whose value can erode without disciplined stewardship. Government spending on school maintenance has historically fallen short of expert recommendations, forcing many institutions to prioritise urgent fixes at the expense of strategic renewal.

For executive leadership, establishing a multi-year capital strategy with phased upgrades, risk-based prioritisation, and contingency reserves is no longer optional. Facility management teams should align with finance functions to quantify deferred maintenance liabilities, benchmark spend to condition grades, and align spend with strategic imperatives rather than short-term budget cycles.

Stewardship, Strategy, and Sustainable School Estates

Aging school buildings are more than infrastructure liabilities—they are organisational stressors that impact safety, equity, financial resilience, and educational excellence. C-suite leaders must embrace a rigorous, research-aligned model of estate management that transforms risk into strategic opportunity. In doing so, they safeguard both people and educational missions for decades to come.

---

School Buy is a UK publication providing practical insight and guidance for senior education leaders, helping decision-makers navigate leadership, finance, governance, and operational challenges with confidence.

We deliver expert analysis, sector news, and practical solutions tailored to the strategic, financial, and operational realities of schools and academy trusts across primary, secondary, and higher education.