The Department for Education is under pressure for its delay in releasing updated fire safety guidelines for new school buildings. Accusations have emerged that the department is "dragging its heels" on this pivotal issue.
Last year, a significant consultation on school building fire safety was initiated by the department. Despite the urgency, 13 months after the consultation concluded, the finalized guidance has yet to be published, even as over 120 new schools, including 23 special schools, have opened since then.
Additional Fire Safety Measures
In the previous year, the government had proposed making sprinklers mandatory in certain new schools. This included schools higher than 11 meters, special education needs facilities, and boarding schools.
The consultation aimed to assess if further fire safety measures should be included and to identify any outdated content. Currently, in the absence of formal guidance, local councils are independently deciding on fire safety measures, creating fears of a "postcode lottery" in school fire safety protocols.
Sprinkler Guidelines
The suggested changes to sprinkler guidelines have drawn criticism. Tilden Watson, Zurich Municipal's Head of Education, commented, "The government's proposals are a step in the right direction but still leave the vast majority of schools and pupils exposed to blazes."
He pointed out that by not including all schools, especially primary schools, the policy creates a "two-tier system of safety" that is "arbitrary and ill-thought-through." Watson expressed concerns that primary schools are most vulnerable since they face nearly double the fire incidents as secondary schools, making fire safety appear as a matter of school height.
Issue of Fire Safety
Critics are increasingly vocal about the government's failure to finalize the guidance
Critics are increasingly vocal about the government's failure to finalize the guidance, which should have been completed by the end of 2021.
Hayley Dunn from the Association of School and College Leaders stated that the lack of urgency over fire safety is concerning. She noted that without clarity, new school buildings are being designed and constructed, leaving crucial fire safety measures unresolved.
Fire Safety Guidance
A spokesperson for the Department for Education assured that student and staff safety is "paramount," and that there is ongoing work to update the fire safety guidance for new buildings and significant alterations.
The department is presently "analyzing feedback" from the consultation and will "respond shortly."
The government is being accused of “dragging its heels” over “crucial” new fire safety guidance for new school buildings. Last year, the Department for Education launched a major consultation on building design for fire safety in schools.
Home Office figures show that in the 2021-22 financial year, there were more than 300 fires at schools in England – almost one a day. And since the consultation closed, more than 120 new schools have opened, including 23 new special schools. However, 13 months after the consultation closed, the Department for Education has yet to publish its final advice.
Additional fire safety measures
Last year, the government was proposing to make sprinklers mandatory in new schools
The consultation was to see “if additional fire safety measures should be included and whether there is content that is no longer needed.”
Last year, the government was proposing to make sprinklers mandatory in new schools above 11 meters high, special education needs schools, and boarding schools.
However, councils are now making their own decisions as they await the guidance decision, which has fuelled concerns of a “postcode lottery”.
Sprinkler guidelines
Many were critical of the proposed changes to sprinkler guidelines, with Tilden Watson, Head of education at Zurich Municipal, saying at the time: “The government’s proposals are a step in the right direction but still leave the vast majority of schools and pupils exposed to blazes.”
“By limiting sprinklers to schools above 11 meters, the government is effectively writing off a significant proportion of the school estate. This will create a two-tier system of safety, which is arbitrary and ill-thought-through.”
“As predominantly single-story buildings, primary schools will be hardest hit, especially as they already suffer nearly twice the rate of blazes as secondary schools. Pupil safety and education will become a lottery based on school height. Parents are likely to be concerned that their children’s lives are being measured in meters.”
Issue of fire safety
Now, the government is facing even more criticism for failing to publish its conclusion
And now, the government is facing even more criticism for failing to publish its conclusion, which was due by the end of 2021.
Hayley Dunn, a business leadership specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said the lack of response “shows an alarming lack of urgency over the crucial issue of fire safety.”
“It is frustrating that the government is now dragging its heels over a decision on what measures to put in place. In the meantime, school buildings are being designed, commissioned and built without clarity over this matter.”
Fire safety guidance
A DfE spokesperson said the safety of pupils and staff in schools was “paramount, which is why we are reviewing our fire safety guidance to strengthen the requirements on new buildings, or for when major alterations are taking place to existing buildings”.
The department was “analyzing feedback” and “plans to respond to the consultation shortly”.
