Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that schools choose the most sustainable heating system when replacing those systems.

The Department has not provided recent guidance to schools on the health and safety implications for failed heating systems.

Responsible bodies are required to carry out regular inspections on their building and systems. Where necessary, they should seek professional advice. If systems have failed, or are at risk of failure, a risk assessment should be made on keeping the school open.

The Health and Safety Executive have issued guidance on minimum temperatures, which is available here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/employer/the-law.htm#:~:text=Minimum%20workplace%20temperature,work%20involves%20rigorous%20physical%20effort.

The Condition Improvement Fund round for 2023/24 that closed to applications from eligible schools and sixth-form colleges in December 2022, gave high priority to projects replacing expired oil and coal boilers with low carbon alternatives to prevent closure. Applicants were advised to submit an environmental sustainability statement to achieve maximum marks on their applications.

The Department has published guidance on best practice for sustainable heating replacements within its Output Specification for new and refurbished buildings. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-requirements-part-b-generic-design-brief.