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<p>The aim of the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP2) is
to undertake rebuilding and refurbishment projects in schools with buildings in the
very worst condition. PSBP2 is not an asbestos removal programme as, in most cases,
the presence of asbestos can be safely managed with minimal investment. However, the
Department for Education announced when the programme was launched that it would consider
some situations where the presence of asbestos means the annual costs of safely managing
it are excessive.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A total of 1299 schools submitted
an expression of interest (EOI) for the second phase of the Priority School Building
Programme. 307 schools indicated in their EOI that they had significant asbestos issues
and provided relevant supporting documentation. These cases were assessed by independent
technical advisers. This assessment considered whether the issues meant areas were
already or likely to become inaccessible, whether the issues were classified as high
risk or whether the presence of asbestos impacts on the operation or the maintenance
of the school.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Eight schools met these criteria and
in these cases the cost of removing or encapsulating asbestos was included in the
calculation of the school’s condition need. Of these, six had sufficiently poor overall
condition need to be included in the programme. Further information on the methodology
used to prioritise schools for inclusion in PSBP2 is published online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401689/PSBP2_Methodology.pdf"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401689/PSBP2_Methodology.pdf</a></p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In all blocks where the condition need will be addressed, all
asbestos will be dealt with appropriately, whether raised as a specific concern or
not.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>PSBP2 is intended to sit alongside - and not to
replace or substitute - the responsibility that local authorities, governing bodies,
trustees, dioceses and other bodies have for the maintenance of school buildings in
their care. Given that PSBP2 is a six year programme (running between 2015 and 2021),
it is essential that schools continue to address any concerns with regards to asbestos
in an appropriate timescale and do not rely on PSBP2 to address immediate needs. All
applicants have been made aware of this requirement.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Alongside
announcing the schools to be included in PSBP2, the Government also announced school
condition allocations for the next three years. We have reformed these allocations
so that they reflect the condition of school buildings; this means that those schools
in poor condition who missed out on PSBP2 can be confident that their needs will instead
be reflected in the funding we make available to their local authority, trust or voluntary
aided partnership for improving the condition of their schools.</p><p> </p>
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