From patchwork to programme – The DfE’s estates strategy and the race to remove RAAC by 2029

Introduction

Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, and Dr Jonathan Dewsbury, Director of Education Estates and Net Zero, appeared before the Education Select Committee to discuss the challenges and future plans for the education estate. The discussions signalled the DfE’s intention to move away from reactive maintenance towards a planned and strategic approach to estate renewal.

Long-Term estates strategy

The DfE has committed to publishing a long-term estates strategy that will address issues such as maintenance backlogs, building conditions, and future capital allocations. While no publication date has been confirmed, the strategy aims to provide schools with a proactive framework for managing their estates.

Condition Improvement Fund (CIF)

The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) has long been criticised for its inefficiencies and shortcomings. MacAlister stated he was “very open” to hearing from leaders about the future of CIF, which is a capital fund intended for smaller academy trusts, voluntary-aided schools, and sixth-form colleges that do not qualify for the School Condition Allocation (SCA). The fund primarily addresses urgent building issues, such as compliance and health and safety, with limited scope for expansion or modernisation.

Challenges with CIF

CIF remains highly oversubscribed, meaning many schools in genuine need miss out. The application process is burdensome, requiring detailed technical evidence, procurement plans, and governance approval within tight timeframes. Urgent issues often fail to align with the annual bidding cycle, and award announcements regularly coincide with school holidays, reducing the time available for mobilisation. Stand-alone projects tend to be more expensive compared to planned programme approaches, while smaller trusts and colleges face challenges in capital planning due to the unpredictability of the bid-based model. Projects focusing on energy efficiency or accessibility often struggle to compete with urgent health and safety needs.

DfE 2024 - 2025 accounts - risk of building failure rated risk as critical

The DfE and the Select Committee also discussed the DfE 2024–25 accounts which rated the risk of building failure as “critical – very likely”. Early research indicates that this is driven less by imminent danger and more by the scale of maintenance backlogs and the time needed for capital investment to bite. Early research on “older buildings” indicates no systemic defect across post‑war system builds, but does confirm deterioration from chronic under‑maintenance and further research is to be published in the spring.

Compliance and estate management standards

The DfE has acknowledged significant gaps in schools’ compliance with estate management standards. The School Estate Management Standards, introduced in April 2025, aim to assist schools in prioritising projects, adopting best practices, and meeting legal requirements. However, these standards are not statutory and lack mechanisms to ensure compliance. A review is scheduled for May 2026.

The Academy Trust Handbook was updated in July 2024 to make estate management a core responsibility for trusts. Trusts that fail to manage their estates effectively may face notices to improve. While notices to improve are expected to be used sparingly, they signal the seriousness of estate management as a priority for trusts.

School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) - New approach to planning and delivery changes

The DfE set out aspirations to shift away from one-off procurements to partnering with a select group of contractors with proven delivery records. This approach aims to improve efficiency and quality, using standardised designs, tighter controls, and robust risk management for latent defects, temporary accommodation, and phased completion.

It was also identified that planning remains a significant barrier to the SRP. Even straightforward projects, such as like-for-like rebuilds, often require full planning permission, detailed pre-application engagement, and stakeholder management.

RAAC removal by 2029

The Education Secretary has set a deadline of 2029 for removing RAAC from all affected schools and colleges not included in the SRP. RAAC is a type of concrete prone to structural failure, posing significant risks. Of over 22,000 education settings, 237 have confirmed RAAC presence. Among these, 123 are part of SRP rebuilds, 108 will receive RAAC removal grants, and six have alternative estate plans. RAAC has been removed from 62 settings, and 41 schools have been rebuilt under the current SRP. To date, £211 million has been spent on RAAC mitigation and remediation, with future costs remaining commercially sensitive with further figures not being confirmed in recent announcement and reported discussions.

Conclusion

The DfE’s evolving estates strategy represents a promising shift towards proactive, planned renewal of the education estate. While challenges such as funding allocation, compliance monitoring, and planning barriers currently remain there is a positive shift in looking to address these issues. The education sector will closely watch the DfE’s next steps to ensure safer, more efficient estates that support schools and colleges in delivering high-quality education.