School building conditions

Request data on the condition of school buildings and maintenance backlogs.

Councils are responsible for maintaining school buildings. Condition survey data shows which schools need the most work and whether maintenance has been deferred.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information: 1. The condition rating for each school building in the authority, using the School Estate Core Facts A to D scale. 2. The date of the most recent condition survey for each school. 3. The total estimated cost of outstanding maintenance and repair work across the school estate. 4. A list of any schools rated C (poor) or D (bad). I would prefer to receive this as a spreadsheet or CSV if possible. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
Back to top ↑

Who to send it to#

Your local council’s education or property services department. Find your council on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

Back to top ↑

Tips#

  • The Scottish Government publishes school estate condition data, but it is often reported at authority level rather than by individual school. A request for school-level data gives you more detail.
  • Schools rated C or D are the ones in the worst condition and may need significant investment or replacement.
  • If the authority has identified buildings containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), ask about that specifically. It has been a significant safety concern across the UK.