Two in five also questioned the suitability of their own specialist SEND facilities, as almost all of those polled stated they did not receive enough cash to maintain their schools.<\/p>\n
‘Beggars belief’<\/h2>\n
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: \u201cSome of the stories we have heard from school leaders about the state of their buildings, and their struggles to secure the funding needed to rectify things, really beggar belief.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren deserve modern, fit-for-purpose schools with fantastic facilities, but where we still have ageing buildings which aren\u2019t even warm or watertight, that sadly feels like a pipe dream for many leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n Fifty-one per cent of the 326 NAHT members who took part in the poll reported having buildings or areas that were out of use or not fit for purpose.<\/p>\n Just under two-thirds of them said their toilet blocks were unsuitable, with 8 per cent saying theirs were closed. Seventy-six per cent of those with areas that were out of use or not fit for purpose added basic infrastructure, like windows, roofs and doors, weren\u2019t up to snuff.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, over half of the 51 per cent said the same of their playgrounds and individual classrooms. Eight per cent noted their playgrounds were shut off.<\/p>\n One head told the survey their building was \u201cfalling apart\u201d, with a piece of fibreboard \u201cholding up a wall in our only hall\u201d.<\/p>\n Another said: \u201cWe have rooms that are closed to children, walls covered in mould, a leaking roof, sinking floorboards, unfit windows and a condemned playground.\u201d<\/p>\n Seven per cent reported entire buildings or mobile classroom blocks as closed, with 26 per cent more branding such structures not fit for purpose.<\/p>\n Whiteman added: \u201cThe truth is some schools are in a desperate situation right now.<\/p>\n \u201cThis survey shows the sheer scale of the challenge ahead, especially with the prospect of events in the Middle East fuelling inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n Over two-fifths of leaders surveyed also said specialist SEND facilities \u2013 like dedicated classrooms, sensory rooms and outdoor spaces \u2013 were not fit for purpose (41 per cent) or closed (3 per cent).<\/p>\n A whopping 96 per cent think they do not receive sufficient capital funding to maintain their estate.<\/p>\n Steve Hitchcock, a primary head from Devon, has been left without enough cash to replace carpets and decorate as he has \u201cto throw good money after bad just to keep repairing leaks and issues\u201d.<\/p>\n His school generated \u00a313,000 from a fundraising campaign last year and in March, it secured a \u00a330,000 grant from a local charity to repair two classrooms.<\/p>\n He argued this raised a \u201cserious question about why schools are having to rely on this level of effort just to meet basic needs\u201d.<\/p>\n Bristol head Darren Brown, of Longwell Green Primary School, said he would stop \u201creactive \u2018make do and mend\u2019 maintenance\u201d if budgets weren\u2019t an issue and move to \u201creally positive, long-term planning\u201d.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cThis would end the heartbreak of books vs pipes, for example, meaning funding is never moved from learning to fix a leaking roof or broken boiler.\u201d<\/p>\n NAHT members will debate a motion at the union\u2019s annual conference this week calling on its national executive to lobby the government to fully fund essential capital expenditure across all state schools.<\/p>\n The motion urges ministers create a \u201clevel playing field so access to funding is prioritised based upon need and safety and no longer dependent on school type\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Paul-Whiteman-1920-400x400.jpg\")
Roof leaks and mould<\/h2>\n
More cash needed<\/h2>\n
‘Book vs pipes’<\/h2>\n