Many school children taught in overcrowded and inadequate buildings, survey of teachers reveals

Many school children taught in overcrowded and inadequate buildings, survey of teachers reveals: Teachers who took part in a NASUWT survey have revealed insight into the condition of the nation’s schools. Findings suggest that an increase in pupils on the roll has resulted in more temporary classrooms, overcrowding and inadequate maintenance of school buildings.

 

Almost half of those polled (48%) said the number of children on the roll had grown significantly in the past five years, with 72 per cent saying this had resulted in larger class sizes at their schools. 

 

The study of 1,250 teachers also revealed that in a bid to cope with the growing number of pupils, 21 per cent have had to utilise other areas of the school for teaching or use Portacabins for classrooms.  

 

Impact on learning

 

Over half (55%) said that the cramped conditions had an impact on effective learning and it was difficult for teachers and students to safely move around their classrooms. 

 

The research also revealed the state of school buildings - noting corridors that could not accommodate two-way traffic as well as mould, damp and leaks. 

 

Of all teachers polled by the NASUWT teachers’ union, only nine per cent felt the quality of their school building was ‘very good’ with 17 per cent rating it as ‘good’. In contrast, 37 per cent admitted conditions were ‘poor’ and 36 per cent, ‘adequate’. 

 

“We have two old mobile classrooms. The heating often does not work and children sit in coats to learn. There are frequent problems with the toilets and drains. Numbers on roll are increasing and we cannot accommodate them,” revealed one of the teachers polled. 

 

Response to survey 

 

In response to the survey, General Secretary to the NASUWT union, Chris Keates said:

 

“The impact of the government’s failure to plan adequately for the predicted increase in the number of school places is clear for all to see.”

 

The Department for Education said in a statement that the government was committed to investing in the maintenance and improvement, and in some cases rebuilding of schools, with £10bn pledged between 2016 and 2021. The statement also said: “We have also created 825,000 places since 2010 and despite rising pupil numbers, the average class size has seen little change. In fact, the average primary class size is 27.”

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