The Government has unveiled fresh funding allocations for building repairs to schools and NHS facilities across England, pledging that every child and patient deserves to learn and receive care in a safe, secure environment.
Ministers have confirmed that around £1.2 billion will be invested in restoring crumbling infrastructure across schools, sixth form colleges, and healthcare premises – a move they say reflects the Government’s commitment to safeguarding future generations and modernising essential public services.
The funding includes £470 million through this year’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), which will benefit pupils at 656 schools and sixth forms, focusing on urgent repairs such as deteriorating roofs, outdated boilers, and the removal of hazardous asbestos. Meanwhile, £750 million will be allocated to more than 400 NHS sites – including hospitals, mental health units, and ambulance stations – to address long-standing issues like leaky pipes, failing ventilation systems, and ageing electrical infrastructure.
The first wave of improvements is set to commence this summer, with the bulk of the projects scheduled for the 2025/26 financial year.
This intervention follows a turbulent year in education, with more than 100 educational institutions forced to shut down temporarily in late 2023 due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which was deemed structurally unsafe. The crisis prompted widespread concern among parents and educators alike over the safety of children in ageing school buildings.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson criticised the state of the school estate inherited from the previous government:
“The defining image of the school estate under the previous government was children sitting under steel props to stop crumbling concrete falling on their heads. It simply isn’t good enough.
Parents expect their children to learn in a safe, warm environment. It’s what children deserve and it is what we are delivering.”
She went on to add that this investment represents a broader commitment to children’s futures, beyond bricks and mortar:
“This is about showing children that their education matters, their futures matter, and this Government is determined to give them the best possible start in life.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed these sentiments, drawing attention to the severe disrepair across parts of the NHS estate:
“A decade and a half of underinvestment left hospitals crumbling, with burst pipes flooding emergency departments, faulty electrical systems shutting down operating theatres, and mothers giving birth in outdated facilities that lack basic dignity.
Patients and staff deserve to be in buildings that are safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Through our Plan for Change, we will make our NHS fit for the future.”
The scale of the challenge remains vast. A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier this year estimated that tackling the NHS building repairs backlog would cost £13.8 billion, with a matching figure of £13.8 billion required to address similar issues across the school estate.
Despite the investment boost, school leaders remain cautious.
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the NAHT, said the funding was a “welcome start” but warned:
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“It is clear that much more Government investment and a long-term plan is needed to restore the school estate to at least a satisfactory condition.”
Julia Harnden, funding specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), added:
“The wider problem is that there is a massive £13.8 billion maintenance backlog across the school estate and we are still nowhere near the level of investment needed.
The fact that schools and sixth form colleges have to bid for funding for urgent repairs is in itself a sign of the inadequacy of overall investment.”
The Department for Education also announced an increased total investment of £2.1 billion for the school estate for 2025/26 – an uplift of nearly £300 million compared to the previous year.
As ministers vow to rebuild and modernise, headteachers, healthcare professionals and families across England will be watching closely to ensure these promises translate into safe, functioning environments for learning and care.
