Trusts and councils facing falling rolls should not sell their sites, which could instead house other public services, the boss of the Department for Education’s property arm has said.

Lara Newman, chief executive of LocatED, warned a Westminster Education Forum webinar today that government would find it “very difficult” to re-acquire sites in some areas if pupil numbers rise again.

Her warning comes despite the fact her organisation has been commissioned by the DfE to check out hundreds of sites with “underutilised land”. Schools Week revealed last week how LocatED is due to issue advice on selling off land to fund vital rebuilds.

A drop in the birth rate since the early 2010s has left primary schools struggling to fill places, with the number of reception-age children due to drop by 760,747 between 2022 and 2032.

Urban councils worst-hit by the problem have slashed admission numbers and even ordered some primaries to close in a bid to get a handle on the issue.

But Newman, whose firm is responsible for buying and developing sites for free schools on the DfE’s behalf, believes a “medium-term” solution to the problem could be “co-locating” community services in space left empty by the crisis until rolls recover.

‘Very difficult to re-buy these sites’

“We’ll be in a really difficult situation if we allow responsible bodies to sell off these school sites…only to be in a situation in 15, 20, 25 years when the population will naturally recover.

“We’ll find it very, very difficult to re-buy those sites in certain areas.”

She said working on the free school programme had showed her that “buying sites in London, Bristol, Birmingam, Leeds are all really difficult calls and they’re expensive, so we need to find a medium-term use for some of these buildings”.

London’s birth rate dropped 17 per cent between 2012 and 2021, equivalent to 23,225 fewer children.  Almost 15 per cent of school places in the city are now unfilled.

Council leaders have warned that Brexit, the Covid pandemic and the cost of housing has exacerbated problems in the capital.

In Hackney – with 634 vacant reception places last year – senior councillors voted in May to carry out two mergers and close two other primaries from next September.

Newman said

1. “there’s a real danger of London becoming childless”.
2. “These are really, really serious issues and we need to find a medium-term way to manage those.
3. “We’ve got significant demand for high-needs…places, nursery and childcare [and] some of the more commercial uses that will help schools maintain viability across the estate. I feel losing the estate is a really serious issue now.”

Schools could join ‘place pilot’ scheme

Newman added LocatED is “interested” in how it could “co-locate more services into school locations to serve the community” through the Local Government Association and Office of Government Property’s “place pilot” project.

The trial aims to “optimise investment…by identifying opportunity for co-location, disposals, relocations, land assembly and other multi-portfolio collaboration”.

The scheme will be run over 18 months in Derby, Hull, Sheffield, West Midlands and London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Hackney and Newham.

“I’m really interested in whether we’ve got this catalyst moment with the surplus places in schools where we can actually start to bring in really useful services that communities need in those spaces in the interim period.”

Newman also said LocatED could explore placing recently-closed children’s centres into “schools that are half empty”.

The “death of the high street has meant the older population has lost a lot of its resource”.

This means “opening up schools to bring in services and cultural experiences that people want in their communities is a really important part of all of this”, Newman continued.

“We’re really interested in how schools can provide those services. There’s some really obvious stuff like commercial lettings space for offices – again, this plays to the underutilised buildings [issue].”

One of the schools says work will take four years, as ministers take legal advice over recouping costs from collapsed construction company.

Three schools built by the same construction company at a cost of £45 million will be demolished and rebuilt over safety concerns, as the government seeks legal advice on recovering costs from the failed firm.

But one of the schools has confirmed works will not be completed for four years, while another is still unsure of the location for new buildings.

Sir Frederick Gibberd College, in Essex, Haygrove School, Somerset, and Buckton Fields Primary School, Northampton, were told in August to close their almost-new buildings constructed by Caledonian Modular.

Surveys found buildings at the three schools, closed in August, could not withstand “very high winds or significant snowfall”.

Academies minister Baroness Barran has now confirmed that the Department for Education (DfE) will fund the rebuilding of the schools.

“We have continued to prioritise face-to-face learning during this time and to help schools through this transition phase, we are providing each school with high quality, long term temporary accommodation,” she said in a statement.

Barran thanked parents and pupils for their “patience” over the last five months, and said the new buildings would have “great indoor and outdoor facilities”.

Contracts worth £38 million for the Sir Frederick Gibberd and Haygrove buildings were awarded to Caledonian Modular in 2019 under the DfE’s £3 billion “modern methods of construction” framework.

Under its contract, Caledonian Modular – which went into administration in March 2022 – led design, planning and installation of the schools.

The firm was also awarded a £6.5 million contract for building works at Buckton Fields.

Following its collapse, two schools it had been contracted to build in Cornwall were demolished before construction was completed after the government identified “defects”.

Surveys carried out at the DfE’s request earlier this year showed buildings at the three schools closed in August could not withstand “very high winds or significant snowfall”.

Temporary buildings still not in place

Closures meant a staggered start to term at the schools, with some pupils being temporarily transferred to other school sites.

Buckton Fields pupils have been educated at Pineham Barns Primary School, which is also run by Preston Hedges Trust.

Pupils will move into “interim buildings” at the Buckton Fields site in February.

The trust’s CEO, Paul Watson, said while it “certainly would not have ever wanted to be in the position” it is currently in, “we are pleased there is now certainty over the existing school building”.

Year 7 pupils at Sir Frederick Gibberd have been temporarily educated at another school ran by The BMAT Education Trust, while its GCSE pupils have been using other schools for specialist science and DT subjects.

BMAT said that a “full suite” of temporary classrooms would open from April, while the permanent building was not expected to be completed until 2027.

Some Haygrove pupils have been educated in temporary classrooms, with others going to a different school site.

But in a letter to parents on Friday, the school said it was still “engaging” with the DfE on details “such as timescales and the location of the new buildings”.

DfE ‘seeking legal advice’ on recouping costs

Documents filed by administrators on Companies House show the DfE was owed £2 million when Caledonian Modular collapsed.

But there were “insufficient funds” to cover unsecured creditors, which included the DfE.

“We are also reviewing our contracts, and seeking legal advice on how we can recover the costs where that contractor was involved,” Barran has now said.

The DfE said it would launch an investigation into the firm in August.

Schools Week also reported in September that the DfE was yet to find construction companies for four new special schools after two firms contracted to do the work – including Caledonian Modular – collapsed.

It emerged yesterday that a new 210-place primary school in Cheshire, due to open in September 2025, would be delayed by at least a year due to the collapse of a construction firm.

Northwich Guardian reported that Cheshire East Council had warned escalating costs because of the delay could lead to the scheme no longer being affordable.

Students from Fife College’s Roof, Slating and Tiling first-year apprenticeship course have been given a special tour of ongoing roofing renovation works at the Kirkcaldy Campus.

The development day, organised by the College’s estates team in partnership with contract partners undertaking the work, Marshall Construction and AtkinsRéalis, provided the students with an in-depth overview of pre-work requirements including such as contract tender, budgets, health and safety and project management.

Marshall Construction, AtkinsRéalis and the College’s Health and Safety team all delivered presentations before the students were given tours of the roofing works and took part in various Q&A sessions. The event gave students a valuable first-hand look at how these kinds of projects are undertaken in the industry.

Mhairi Horne, from Kirkcaldy, who is an apprentice with local business, Roof and Fibre, said:

“The College, AtkinsRéalis and Marshall Construction delivered a memorable learning opportunity for me and the rest of the apprentices. I have a keen interest in the traditional side of roofing and this project really gave us the chance to fully grasp the importance of conservation work, preserving the historical architecture while maintaining the building’s integrity.”

Leah Stewart, also from Kirkcaldy and an apprentice with Roof and Fibre, added:

“Insights from Marshall Construction contractors, AtkinsRéalis, and the College transformed the visit into an enlightening exploration of heritage preservation. From small roofing repairs to intricate lead and stonework, each step reflected the dedication required within the roofing/construction industry, providing us all with valuable insights.

“This immersive experience, along with thorough discussions, offered a remarkable opportunity for emerging professionals like us. I am grateful for the meaningful dialogue with seasoned professionals that our class will forever appreciate.”

Tam Cunningham, Estates Manager at Fife College, said:

“This visit was a great opportunity to welcome students to the Kirkcaldy Campus where we have a live project and works going on with the roof and stonework. Our partnership with AtkinsRéalis and Marshall Construction, combined with our support to the local community, ensured the students gained a ‘live learning experience’ that I’m sure will be a great benefit to them as they embark on their own careers in the industry.”

Derek Clarke, Marshall Construction’s General Building Commercial Director, said:

“Marshall Construction are delighted to be part of the team delivering the external fabric repair works and to have had the opportunity to contribute to the site visit. We were impressed with the level of interest the apprentices showed, who really engaged with the experienced tradesmen working on the project.

“The conservation of this and the many other traditional buildings will provide a huge seam of skilled work and opportunity for tradesmen of the future and it was rewarding to see the enthusiasm shown by the apprentices for the type of work on show.”

Antonio Cabello, Regional Director at AtkinsRéalis, said:

“We were really pleased to be part of such an amazing experience. It was a great opportunity to showcase the collaboration between AtkinsRéalis, Fife College and Marshalls Construction and give students an understanding as to why the works were being carried out, the design stages leading up to works starting on site and then the site visit. It was very rewarding to see the enthusiasm and keenness of the students in person, particularly those with an interest in traditional construction.

“It is essential for the training that they see in situ how different components and materials are put together, existing constraints on site, the health and safety aspect, but also the passion and dedication that specialist tradesmen put into every single detail, to ensure the outcome meets the client demands whilst the significance and the heritage value of the building is full respect.

“As a conservation-accredited professional, I believe that ensuring that traditional skills are properly passed over next generation is key to securing the future of our very valuable built heritage.”

Training partnership set to unlock retrofit career opportunities in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

A new retrofit training academy hub has been established in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to meet the growing demand for retrofitters, grow career opportunities for residents, and upskill contractor workforces in the counties.

Created to unlock net zero careers, the training partnership between The Retrofit Academy and the Net Zero Skills Hub at Abingdon & Witney College has set up The Retrofit Academy Oxon and Bucks.

The announcement comes as over £1.8bn from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and Homes Upgrade Grant (HUG) funding has increased the demand of number of retrofit professionals across the country.

Students across the counties now have access to the UK’s best quality retrofit courses created and licensed by The Retrofit Academy, the driving force in retrofit knowledge and skills.

Providing residents and organisations across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire with the means to take up the growing number of retrofit job roles, the sector-specific qualifications range from levels 2 to 5 under the PAS 2035 British Standard for retrofit and include:

• Level 2 AIM Qualifications Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit
• Level 3 AIM Qualifications Award in Domestic Retrofit Advice
• Level 4 AIM Qualifications Award in Domestic Retrofit Assessment
• Level 5 AIM Qualifications Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management

Graduates will be able unlock new career paths in across both counties that contractors, local authorities and housing associations looking to upgrade social housing are recruiting for. Once in their roles, the qualified retrofitters will be tasked with making sustainable upgrades to homes across the UK, such as better installation, new doors and windows, and greener heating systems.

The nationally recognised qualifications from The Retrofit Academy join a raft of high-quality net zero courses being offered at Abingdon & Witney College that allow students to build a rewarding and fulfilling career. Aiming to address the skills shortages in several trades across the industry, courses provide students with highly sought after green qualifications, including air source heat pump training, solar thermal, photo voltaic and electric vehicle maintenance and repair.

David Pierpoint, Chief Executive at The Retrofit Academy said:

“The launch of TRA Oxon and Bucks in partnership with Abingdon and Witney College further strengthens our mission to extend the capacity for delivering retrofit at scale in the South East. Learners training at our newest hub will get the best quality training courses available in the UK and graduate with the ability to support delivery of high-quality, large-scale retrofit programmes.

“Our work with training providers to create career paths for qualified retrofitters and bring graduates together with employers is important to address the practical retrofit skills gap for SHDF programmes. With 10 training partnerships established and over 5,500 learners already enrolled, we are replicating this training model in key regions across the UK to increase these numbers even further.”

Jacqui Canton, Principal and CEO of Abingdon & Witney College added:

“An estimated 400,000 newly trained people are required within retrofit and our partnership with The Retrofit Academy means our college is now a part of solution to fill this skills gap. We know our students will receive the best training experience, delivered by industry experts which will equip them for a successful career in retrofit.”

For more information on training with TRA Oxon & Bucks and the retrofit courses offered, click here.

The construction of a £6 million new block has been completed at Stonehenge School.

The building contains a school hall, changing rooms, drama studio, fitness studio, music classrooms and practice rooms.

The project was funded by Wiltshire Council and the Department of Education and will allow the old lower school block to be demolished and replaced by a playing field.

Stonehenge School is a mixed comprehensive school in Amesbury for children aged 11 to 16.

Headteacher Carole Dean said:

 

“The replacement for our older, original building means that pupils now have state-of-the-art facilities in which to receive their education.

“The older buildings had become somewhat dishevelled, and there were often occasions where students were not able to gain the full school experience.

“The new building is bright and vibrant and offers a range of spaces that can be utilised to support the arts in particular.”

The new block also contains specialised teaching and intervention spaces for pupils with special educational needs.

Councillor Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills said:

“This project supports Wiltshire Council’s priority to ensure that all young people get the best start in life.

“This investment follows the building of an extension that was opened in 2019, and with the added improvements to the rest of the school site, the students of Stonehenge School now have modern facilities they can really enjoy and thrive in.”