Asbestos in schools


Hundreds of schools are putting pupils and teachers at risk by failing to manage asbestos effectively, says teaching union NASUWT. 


Figures released by the Department for Education (DfE) last month, in an asbestos management in schools data collection report, show that one in five schools responding to the data collection were not fully compliant with regulations.


NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said that the figures were “deeply concerning”.


The survey was voluntary with only 25% of schools responding. Keates said: “It is reasonable to assume that schools who know they are not compliant would be less likely to respond, with hundreds of schools putting pupils and teachers at risk by failing to manage asbestos effectively.”


She added that “the only safe asbestos is removed asbestos” and called for the phased removal of all asbestos in schools without delay.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/594042/Asbestos_management_in_schools_data_collection_report.pdf