DfE must ensure new schools represent value for money says ASCL

The House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) has today (Wednesday 26 April 2017) published a report on ‘Capital funding for schools’.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The PAC report reflects many of our own concerns. The DfE needs to do more to ensure that the creation of new schools represents value for money.

“It is particularly important that they are provided only in areas where they are needed. In the past this has not always been the case and this has contributed to a postcode lottery with spare capacity in some areas while others do not have enough school places. Creating surplus places is an inefficient use of public money and damages existing schools where spare capacity is created.

“It is also vital that the next government provides more funding to address the £6.7 billion needed to return all existing school buildings to satisfactory or better condition, and that it provides schools with the revenue funding they need for general maintenance.”