Schools

Data for rebuilding programme ‘flawed’, says councillor

Education chief says council used its own data for rebuilding bids as DfE's was 'inaccurate’

Education chief says council used its own data for rebuilding bids as DfE's was 'inaccurate’

17 Dec 2023, 5:00

More from this author

The school condition data used to select the first 100 projects in the government’s flagship rebuilding programme was “inaccurate and flawed”, a Stockport councillor has said.

Launched by Boris Johnson in 2021, schools in the first two rounds of the rebuilding programme were selected based on the Department for Education’s condition data collection (CDC) between 2017 and 2019.

Nominations were then invited last year for the next 300 projects.

School condition data branded ‘inaccurate and flawed’

Wendy Meikle, Stockport’s cabinet member for education, told a webinar this week that two urgent rebuilds in her area did not make the cut for the first 100 rebuilds, but have now been listed after applications opened.

“The first two rounds were based on DfE condition data, data we believe to be inaccurate and flawed,” the Liberal Democrat said.

“The DfE has listened to feedback and the third round was based on nominations using our own data, which seems fairer.”

In “exceptional cases”, leaders could submit applications with “professional evidence” if blocks had “issues that presented a risk of imminent closure, were not identified in CDC data and could only be resolved through a rebuild”.

‘Data not inaccurate,’ says DfE

But the CDC data was also “used to assess rebuilding need in the buildings nominated”.

Thorn Grove Primary in Cheadle Hulme was the first of the Stockport schools to secure a place. It was joined by Moorfield Primary last December.

Meikle said experience of the successful bids “has been positive and DfE colleagues have listened, collaborated and enacted plans based on local needs”.

The DfE said its “data is not inaccurate”. The information collected “is at a visual, high level, and is primarily used to help inform our understanding of the estate”.

It is “not a structural nor a health and safety survey”. A new CDC is expected to be completed in 2026.

Latest education roles from

Head of Health & Safety Operations

Head of Health & Safety Operations

Capital City College Group

Executive Deputy Director of Primary Education

Executive Deputy Director of Primary Education

Meridian Trust

Head of Safeguarding

Head of Safeguarding

Lift Schools

Chief People Officer and Director of People and Organisational Development – West London College

Chief People Officer and Director of People and Organisational Development – West London College

FEA

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

CPD Accreditation Among New Developments For The Inspiring Leadership Conference

As this year’s Inspiring Leadership Conference approaches, we highlight fives new initiatives and the core activities that make this...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Equity and agency for a changing world – how six core skills are transforming inclusive education

There is a familiar thread running through current government policy, curriculum reviews and public debate about education. We are...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Equitas: ASDAN’s new digital platform putting skills at the heart of learning

As schools and colleges continue to navigate increasingly complex learning needs, the demand for flexible, skills-focused provision has never...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Bett UK 2026: Learning without limits

Education is humanity’s greatest promise and our most urgent mission.

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Schools

‘Highly valued’ music hubs face funding and staffing challenges

A report has evaluated the first year of new-style music hubs, following a major restructure

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Schools

Draft gender guidance urges ‘very careful approach’ to social transition

Proposed guidance also states there are 'no exceptions' for single-sex spaces in schools

Ruth Lucas
Schools

School nurseries lack staff and space for extra care, report finds

The government has promised £400 million towards 'tens of thousands of places' in school-based nurseries

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Schools

Government to ‘update’ collective worship guidance for England’s schools

Move comes after the Supreme Court ruled the delivery of religious education in Northern Ireland schools was unlawful

Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *