Walls come tumbling down

“ONE of the cupboards in science fell out and hit the technician on the head. She’s fine but the school hasn’t got any funds to replace them. So now science has to manage without cupboards.”

Chris’s secondary school in Cheshire is in severe disrepair. With a leaking roof, boarded-up windows, broken heating and faulty lights, it’s a struggle to keep on top of problems. This creates an unpleasant environment and constant hazards for staff and pupils.

“The other day one of the windows just fell out into the car park below. It was very fortunate no one was passing,” says Chris, who is a drama teacher and NEU health and safety (H&S) rep at the school.

He explains that the caretakers of his school are trying to keep up with everything but are struggling because there isn’t enough money. “It’s a pretty horrible job as they’re trying to patch things up and prop up the school in ways they shouldn’t have to,” Chris says. “We really need to knock the school down and start again”.

Unfortunately, Chris’s school is not the exception. In December 2022 the Department for Education’s (DfE) annual report raised the risk level of a number of school buildings collapsing in England from “critical – likely” to “critical – very likely” after an increase in structural issues had been reported.

The report said: “There is a risk of collapse of one or more blocks in some schools which are at, or approaching, the end of their designed life expectancy and structural integrity is impaired. The risk predominantly exists in those buildings built in the years 1945 to 1970 which used ‘system build’ light frame techniques.” continued on page 31 continued from page 29 instead we seal it,” says Chris. “But as time goes by the seal begins to crumble. There are classrooms where we know there’s asbestos sealed under the carpet. But the carpet has now worn away in some areas. It’s a concern.”

Even more shockingly, despite labelling the risk level as “critical”, the Government does not know which schools are at risk of falling down.

Unison submitted a freedom of information request asking for the number and names of schools that could collapse. The Government’s response was, simply, that this information was “not held”.

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Despite labelling the issue as “critical” and “worsening” the DfE’s annual report suggested that the life expectancy of buildings can be extended by careful monitoring and maintenance. However, as any education leader will tell you, there just isn’t the funding to pay for the overwhelming number of repairs in their school. According to the DfE’s 2021 analysis, the estimated cost of “remedial work to repair or replace all defective elements in the school estate” is £11.4 billion, with the average secondary school needing £1.6 million for repairs. Considering recent rates of inflation, this figure is likely to now be much higher.

Courses limited by hazardous equipment Students’ learning is also affected. Teacher Katie says at her secondary school in London, students aren’t allowed to use half of the Astroturf sports pitch, which was condemned as it is covered in mould. In the food technology room the ancient cookers have been labelled as not fit for purpose.

“In my classroom we have a leak through the tiles. When we had heavy rain it came straight through onto my new GCSE text books. In the art block, there’s an ongoing leak that damages the students’ work,” says Katie, a geography teacher and H&S rep.

But putting children’s safety first can take its toll on staff wellbeing. Jo was diagnosed with skin cancer a year ago and believes that her diagnosis was likely, in part, due to the fact they had been unable to afford to replace the broken shade sails in the garden. Despite providing cheaper alternatives to protect the children, she was left unprotected herself while spending many hours a day supervising outside play.

NEU H&S reps Chris, Katie and Jo are constantly working to keep their schools safe, but admit it’s an uphill battle. “When I ask a department if there are any issues, the common response is ‘where do I start?’ Point to anywhere in the room and there’ll be a leak, a broken window or a falling ceiling tile,” says Chris.

With an unknown number of schools crumbling, asbestos becomes a serious concern. It is estimated that around 83 per cent of schools contain asbestos – which was used in school construction until it was banned in 1999. Exposure to the construction material can cause many diseases in later life including mesothelioma, an incurable cancer. Removing asbestos is very expensive so in most schools it is sealed so it can be left undisturbed. But with schools at risk of collapse, the chance of staff and students coming into contact with it increases.

“We can’t afford to remove asbestos because it’s across most of the school, so

In February the NEU, alongside six other education unions, wrote to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan highlighting the shocking state of school buildings, and calling on the Government to take urgent action to make them safe and fit for the future. The letter points out that the Government’s own data calculates that between 2009-10 and 2021-22 overall

For students at Chris’s school, food technology and design and technology are no longer available. Originally the school had purpose-built suites for the subjects, but the cost of replacing the now ageing and hazardous ovens and other equipment exceeds school budgets. He says: “Managers have to make tough decisions about whether you replace the roof or allow the kids to be leaked on but at least they have the equipment they need for their course.” capital spending on school buildings fell by 37 per cent in cash terms and 50 per cent in real terms, and says: “Such failure to invest in the maintenance and renewal of our school estate inevitably has consequences.”

Staff put at risk as they protect pupils Jo, a deputy head who runs a maintained nursery in London, understands only too well the difficult decisions leaders are facing in maintaining their buildings without adequate funding. She explains that, although it shouldn’t be the case, staff often do as much as they can to maintain the school themselves to keep the space safe for children. “I’ll often find myself unblocking a loo or fixing something. Recently the edges of our stairs started to come off all at the same time so we just had to patch them up so no one fell down,” she says.

Discussing the letter, NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney called it a “disgrace” that school buildings have been allowed to deteriorate to the extent that some are at risk of collapse, adding: “In one of the most advanced economies in the world it is shocking that so many children, young people and school staff work and learn in an environment that is dangerous.” n Read the letter in full: neu.org.uk/ press-releases/school-buildings-risk n Become an H&S rep: neu.org.uk/ health-and-safety-reps

But despite the challenges, it seems that becoming an NEU H&S rep can have a positive effect. Katie undertook a full health and safety audit of her school using NEU resources. She subsequently managed to have several issues resolved including a promise to replace the dangerous cookers, and a permanent solution to the lack of safe drinking water for staff due to “iffy plumbing”.

But there’s only so much educators can do. “Schools should be safe places and the Government needs to take note. MPs wouldn’t sit in the House of Commons if there was water dripping down on them,” Katie says, passionately.

WITH numerous restaurants, Michelin stars, TV appearances and best-selling cookery books to his name, you’d think Tom Kerridge would already have enough on his plate.

But for Tom, “the whole point of working in hospitality is helping people”, which is why one of the UK’s most celebrated chefs is campaigning to end child food poverty.

Having gained success in the culinary and media worlds, Tom wants to use his profile to campaign for change. “I’ve found myself in a position where I have a voice, and I want to give back. I realise how lucky I am to have come from a disadvantaged background and to not be in that position anymore,” he says.

‘Difficult for my single mum’

Having grown up in a single parent family on a council estate in Gloucester, Tom understands the challenges parents can face in trying to feed their children. “I now recognise how difficult it must have been for my mum, with two kids, to make sure we were looked after and fed,” he says.

A recipient of free school meals (FSM) as a child, Tom believes that extending FSM to all children would go some way to combating child hunger and “helping the most vulnerable in our society”.

“If everyone got free school meals, every child would get at least one hot meal a day. And for many, that might be the only meal they have,” he says.

Tom, clearly an expert on this subject, rattles off some shocking statistics. There are 3.9 million children in the UK living in poverty and over 800,000 children whose families are on universal credit (UC) but who still don’t qualify for FSM (parents on UC must be earning less than £7,400 a year to qualify).

“It’s about inclusivity,” he continues. “Extending free school meals to all would destigmatise disadvantaged children and stop them feeling like they are getting a handout. It puts everyone on the same playing field.” in temporary accommodation, or may only be able to afford to turn the oven on for 20 minutes. So Tom has made sure that all needs are catered for.

FSM also help to support learning and enable children to flourish. “Your ability to learn and concentrate is increased by being fed and hydrated,” Tom says.

Having worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, Tom is understandably passionate about food education. He believes FSM can play an important part in helping children to learn healthy habits as well as to explore heritage and culture.

He has also included recipes with a variety of styles, flavours and food types.

“Many people affected by the cost-ofliving crisis might have English as a second language. That’s why there are so many recipes to choose from. So whatever your background you can find something tasty your kids will be happy to eat,” he explains.

‘Thrilled’

with London FSM plan

Tom is supporting the NEU’s free school meals for all campaign, which is calling on the Government to extend FSM to all primary children in England. In 2020 Scotland promised FSM for every child in primary school and in 2021 Wales did the same. Unfortunately, children in England are still waiting for the Government to act.

However, in February, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced that every London primary school pupil would receive FSM in the next academic year.

“It’s amazing,” says Tom. “It’s everything we should be doing as a society.

As part of this work, in 2021 Tom, alongside footballer and FSM campaigner Marcus Rashford, launched the Full Time campaign, which calls “full time” on child food poverty. Tom has created 52 easy, filling, pocket-friendly recipes for families, whatever their budget or resources.

“We didn’t want it to be about healthy cooking because this is about real life. If you can only afford to give your kids one bowl of pasta a day, well let’s make it tasty and substantial and make sure they don’t go to bed hungry,” he says.

Many families living in poverty also don’t have basic cooking equipment, might be living

“London is such a broad space with both uber-privileged and massively underprivileged kids, so this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase free school meals and their benefits.” n Visit freeschoolmealsforall.org.uk n Find out more at nochildleftbehind.org.uk n Recipes with Tom and Marcus Rashford at tomkerridge.com/full-time-meals n See page 47 for a Tom Kerridge recipe and the chance to win a copy of his latest book, Real Life Recipes

He just hopes the Government will sit up, take note and extend the scheme, permanently, to the whole country.

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