health and safety | Schools Week

Ensuring Learning Never Stops: Portakabin Supporting Schools Affected by RAAC

In recent months, the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in over 230 schools across England has presented an unprecedented challenge to the education sector. With 119 schools earmarked for rebuilding and 110 set to receive removal grants, the implications are far-reaching, threatening health and safety, disrupting education, and impacting the reputation of affected schools.

Small academy trusts told to use reserves to fund urgent safety repairs

The government has warned small academy trusts and sixth form colleges they will be denied funding for urgent health and safety repairs if they could use their own reserves instead. The Department for Education published revised guidance on “urgent capital support” (UCS) funding today, tweaking eligibility rules. The UCS pot is earmarked for “urgent condition […]

Speed read: ‘Academy trust handbook’ 2021 published as DfE rebrands key guide

The DfE has rebranded the academies financial handbook as the academy trust handbook, with ministers dubbing the latest edition a “one stop shop” for academy leaders. The update has also seen financial notices to improve renamed as “notices to improve”, to reflect that the warnings issued to academies sometimes cover “broader governance issues”. Baroness Berridge, […]