What is the School Rebuilding Programme and how is it benefitting pupils?

All pupils should be able to learn in buildings that are fit for purpose. Some buildings in the school estate don’t meet the standards pupils or parents should expect – but the School Rebuilding Programme is fixing that.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the School Rebuilding Programme?

The School Rebuilding Programme carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects at schools and sixth-form colleges across England. Projects are prioritised according to the condition of buildings taking into account things like how poor the fabric and structure of the buildings are.

All buildings in the School Rebuilding Programme are built to the latest construction standards, designed to be net-zero in operation and more resilient to the effects of climate change. New buildings will provide modern facilities to support a world-class education ranging from classrooms and science labs to sports halls and dining rooms.

How many schools are in the School Rebuilding Programme?

Over the course of this decade 500 schools will benefit from the programme. As of July 2022, 161 have been selected for inclusion.

How do you decide which schools get to benefit from the School Rebuilding Programme?

We prioritise schools based on how immediate and severe their need for improvement is. We ran a public consultation on how we should decide which schools are in the worst condition and have developed the application process from that. The consultation findings can be found here: Prioritising schools for the School Rebuilding Programme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We closed the most recent round of nominations in March and are currently assessing them.

Why is it so important that school buildings are improved?

We believe that it is important that all pupils, regardless of where they are from or their background, have access to facilities that will help them maximise their potential.

The commitment to rebuild and refurbish the schools most in need is part of Government’s wider Schools White Paper commitments, to ensure that by 2030 every child will be taught a broad and ambitious curriculum in a school with high expectations and strong standards of behaviour.

Read MoreAll pupils should be able to learn in buildings that are fit for purpose. Some buildings in the school estate don’t meet the standards pupils or parents should expect – but the School Rebuilding Programme is fixing that. Here’s what …