Hundreds of thousands more children and young people across England will learn in modern, high‑quality, climate‑resilient classrooms under the government’s new Education Estates Strategy, unveiled today.
The strategy marks the start of a decade of national renewal, ending the cycle of “sticking‑plaster repairs” and replacing deteriorating buildings with safe, inclusive and future‑proof learning environments.
For too long, the government says, millions have been spent patching up school buildings that no longer meet modern standards. The new 10‑year plan will instead prioritise full renewal, retrofit, and rebuilding, ensuring classrooms are fit for purpose, designed for inclusion, and resilient to climate impacts such as flooding and overheating.
The strategy is backed by an additional £1 billion to fix crumbling or unsafe buildings and deliver the next phase of the School Rebuilding Programme.
A major feature of the strategy is a commitment that every secondary school will eventually have an inclusion base, which will ensure there is a dedicated, calm and supportive space where pupils with additional needs can receive targeted help.
Inclusion bases will aim to:
- Provide a bridge between mainstream and specialist provision
- Are already used successfully by many schools as SEN units or pupil support spaces
- Help pupils with SEND thrive alongside their peers
This ambition supports wider SEND reform ahead of the upcoming Schools White Paper, building on £200 million invested in specialist teacher training, tens of thousands of new SEND school places already being funded, and, “Inclusion” being introduced as a new judgement within Ofsted inspections.
Underpinning this work is over £3.7 billion of investment to create 60,000 new places for pupils with SEND nationwide. This marks a major reshaping of school estates to meet the needs of every child in their local school. The government will also publish new guidance helping schools convert existing spaces, such as spare classrooms, into effective inclusion bases.
The Education Estates Strategy includes a £700 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to address urgent maintenance issues by:
- Fixing leaky roofs
- Replacing broken heating systems
- Protecting schools from flooding
- Extending building life by 15–40 years
Ministers say these measures could have prevented some of the over 40 school closures reported last year due to building condition failures.
A further £300 million will fund the Connect the Classroom programme, ensuring all schools have modern digital infrastructure capable of supporting next‑generation teaching and learning.
The strategy sets out a long‑term vision for school and college buildings that are inclusive by design, can support pupils with a wide range of needs, can withstand the challenges of a changing climate, and will enable teachers and pupils to thrive.
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, commented:
“For too long, schools and colleges have been forced to patch and mend buildings that have already deteriorated – spending their time worrying about leaking roofs instead of focusing on what matters most: giving every child the best possible education.
“This 10-year plan marks a turning point. We’re breaking that cycle with a decade of national renewal for schools and colleges. We’ve already committed to unprecedented long-term funding, but we will go further, including our £700 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to tackle problems before they become costly crises.
“This is about more than buildings – it’s about breaking down barriers to opportunity. Every child deserves to learn in a safe, accessible environment, with the right facilities to meet their needs and help them thrive.”
The Education Estates Strategy sits within £38 billion of capital investment from 2025–26 to 2029–30 – the highest since 2010 – dedicated to ensuring schools and colleges are “fit for the future”.
Together, the reforms aim to deliver a decade of national renewal.
Image credit: iStock
