Education

NUT debates asbestos in schools

Published

8 years ago

April 28, 2017

Asbestos: £10m in compensation

ASBESTOS remains a killer in schools and there is simply no evidence to support the Government’s case that it is safer to manage asbestos than to remove it.

That’s according to the National Union of Teachers, who held their conference in Cardiff over the Easter break.

ASBESTOS A SCANDAL

Commenting after the debate on Motion 26, Kevin Courtney, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: “The continuing presence of asbestos in nearly 90% of our schools is a scandal and is risking the lives of children and staff. In 2014 there were 17 teacher deaths from mesothelioma. Children are even more at risk because of the long latency of asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma.

“The Government and the Health and Safety Executive do not acknowledge that there is a serious problem with asbestos in schools and as a consequence there is no political will to remove it.

“The findings of a survey of NUT members provide no comfort for the Government and HSE’s view that the current policy of managing asbestos in situ is working.

“An NUT survey on asbestos in schools shows that nearly 50% of respondents did not know whether their school contained asbestos and only 2% of respondents said that parents had been given information about the presence of asbestos in the school.

“This is deeply worrying given that the majority of schools (86%) do contain asbestos. Parents, children and teachers should not be kept in the dark about this issue that has serious and life threatening consequences to those exposed to it.

“The NUT will continue to work with its partner unions through the Joint Union Asbestos Committee. We are calling for Government to undertake a national audit of the extent, type and condition of asbestos in our schools and to begin a long-term phased removal of asbestos from our schools, with schools in the worst condition prioritised. This ticking time bomb has to be eradicated from our schools.”

TEACHERS AND PUPILS AT RISK

The union has called for asbestos’ removal must take place under strictly controlled conditions and claims it is misleading and scaremongering to suggest that removal might be unsafe.

At least 319 teachers have died from mesothelioma since 1980, and 205 of these deaths have occurred since 2001.

The real numbers are likely to be much higher because these figures do not include anyone over the age of 75.

Teachers are now dying from mesothelioma at an average of 17 per year, up from three per year during 1980-85.

Much of the asbestos in schools was installed during the 1940s -1970s, and is in a deteriorating state. When asbestos is in poor condition, fibres are more likely to be released. Therefore, phased removal, with priority given to the most dangerous materials, is the practical solution and is the only way to ensure that schools are safe.

Some 86% of schools contain asbestos, and, as all children attend school, the numbers facing potential exposure are huge.

£10M PAID IN COMPENSATION

Professor Julian Peto, a leading epidemiologist, has estimated that between 200 and 300 people die each year of mesothelioma because of exposure to asbestos when they were a pupil.

Schools are different to other workplaces as children are more at risk from asbestos exposure. This is because they have longer lives ahead in which to develop asbestos-related disease. The greater risk to children was confirmed by the Department of Health’s Committee on Carcinogenicity in June 2013.

A child exposed at age five is five times more likely to develop mesothelioma than someone exposed at age 30.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests submitted to all local authorities in England and Wales have revealed that, in the last decade, over £10m has been paid in compensation to former pupils and members of staff exposed to asbestos in schools.

86% OF SCHOOLS CONTAIN ASBESTOS

An NUT survey carried out in March 2015 found that 44% of respondents had not even been told whether their school is one of the 86% which do contain asbestos.

Inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the last few years found flaws in asbestos management in a number of schools that have led to enforcement action. Since relatively few schools have been inspected, this begs the question, what about the rest?

Asbestos management can be expensive and time-consuming and requires a sustained commitment, even when changes to personnel take place, or when schools convert to academy status. The alternative – removal – means the problem is dealt with once and for all.

In 2016, the DfE surveyed all head teachers about asbestos management in their school. Unfortunately, as the survey was not compulsory, only 25% of schools responded. Of those that did, nearly 30% needed to improve their asbestos management and 19% were not compliant with the Control of Asbestos Regulations. This included 2% of schools which gave serious cause for concern.

In March 2017, it was reported to the Public Accounts Committee that pupils at a school in Sunderland had to be ‘hosed down’ on more than one occasion because asbestos fibres were released from ceiling tiles.

NO LONG-TERM STRATEGY

The findings of the Government’s review of its asbestos in schools policy, published on March 12, 2015, were a step in the right direction with a new focus on training for staff and accountability of duty holders.

What was lacking, however, is a long-term strategy for the gradual eradication of asbestos from schools.

£300,000 was spent removing asbestos from royal households in 2014-15, and a further £150m has been earmarked for royal refurbishment works, which includes asbestos removal.

Likewise, restoration works to the Houses of Parliament are scheduled to cost between £3.5b and £5.7b, a sum which includes asbestos removal.

The NUT has asked: if asbestos removal is good enough for royal households and politicians – why should pupils and teachers receive anything less than this?

The NUT has recommended that all teachers should be aware if their school contains asbestos, and specifically where it is located, to avoid unintentionally disturbing it.

If there is no asbestos survey available, teachers should ensure that this information is provided to them by the dutyholder/headteacher.

Education

Wales to host WorldSkills UK National Finals for the first time

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Record number of Welsh finalists as prestigious competition heads to the nation this November

WELSH venues will host the WorldSkills UK National Finals for the first time this November, marking a major milestone for skills excellence across the country.

The event—considered the UK’s premier competition for technical and vocational training—will see 417 top competitors from across the UK take part in 47 finals. This year’s contest, running from 26 to 28 November, will be held across five sites in Wales.

A record-breaking 120 Welsh competitors have qualified, making up 29% of the national finalists—an increase from last year’s already impressive figure of one in four. The success highlights Wales’ growing reputation for producing skilled young professionals in fields ranging from beauty therapy to aerospace engineering.

The Welsh Government announced its hosting partnership with Inspiring Skills Excellence and WorldSkills UK last September, following the successful international finals in Lyon. That collaboration paved the way for the UK finals to be brought to Wales for the first time.

Disciplines at this year’s finals will include 3D Digital Game Art, Aircraft Maintenance, Health and Social Care, and Culinary Arts. Top performers could be selected to represent the UK at the prestigious “Skills Olympics” in Japan in 2028.

‘Futureproofing the economy’

Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant MS said:
“These competitions show the real-world value and applications of apprenticeships and are invaluable in futureproofing our economy.

“I am proud Wales is hosting the WorldSkills UK Finals in 2025. We have a beautiful country, and I hope all visitors will take some time to explore it.

“I wish this new cohort of competitors pob lwc – I know you’ll do yourselves and us all proud.”

WorldSkills UK Competitions attract more than 6,000 registrations annually from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The competition-based training is seen as a crucial part of the post-16 education and training landscape, helping schools, colleges, and employers benchmark performance against international standards.

Meet the competitors

Mark Wright, an apprentice at International Crusher Solutions Ltd, is competing in the Metal Fabricator category.
“I started out in Construction Metalwork competitions last year and won gold in the Skills Competition Wales with the highest score in the region, and silver in WorldSkills UK,” he said.

“I enjoyed them so much I decided to go for the UK qualifiers this year in Metal Fabrication too—and I’m over the moon to be heading to the finals. It’s a great experience—I just focus, get stuck in, and enjoy it.”

Elara Jones, selected for the Beauty Therapy Practitioner competition, added:
“Winning gold at Skills Competition Wales and now reaching the WorldSkills UK Finals shows all the hard work has paid off. It feels like everything I’ve done has been building to this—it means so much to reach this level.”

Bradley Claringbold is returning to the Industrial Electronics competition after competing last year.
“I didn’t place in the top three last time, but I’m back to show how far I’ve come,” he said. “The extra training has helped me learn so much—I’m excited to have another shot.”

For more information about WorldSkills UK and how to get involved as a competitor, tutor, or employer in Wales, visit: https://inspiringskills.gov.wales

Education

Top marks for Aberystwyth University in UK student survey

Published

3 days ago

July 9, 2025

Staff Writer

ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY is the top university in Wales for student satisfaction for the tenth year in a row according to the latest survey of students’ opinions on the quality of their courses.

The 2025 edition of the authoritative National Student Survey (NSS), which is published today, has been compiled using over 357,000 student responses from across the UK.

With an improved and consistently high student satisfaction rate, 86% of Aberystwyth University students are satisfied with the quality of their course, 4 percentage points above the sector average in Wales.

Based on the higher education institutions featured in the latest edition of The Times / Sunday Times Good University Guide, 90% of the University’s students are satisfied with their teaching, putting Aberystwyth in the top 10 in the UK.

Aberystwyth also features in the UK top 5 for ‘Academic Support’ and ‘Learning Resources’ and in the top 10 in the UK for ‘Assessment and Feedback’ and ‘Organisation and Management.

Aberystwyth also outperforms the UK sector in all seven core themes that are featured in this year’s survey: Teaching on My Course, Learning Opportunities, Assessment and Feedback, Academic Support, Organisation and Management, Learning Resource and Student Voice.

Professor Anwen Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience at Aberystwyth University, said:

“This is fantastic news. Our University has a long-standing and enviable reputation for student satisfaction and today’s results underline that. They demonstrate that Aberystwyth University is rated by our students as one of the best universities in the UK, reflecting the dedication of our staff to provide the best possible learning experience.

“The survey results go to show that we are an excellent place to learn, and that our teaching is simply outstanding.

“Aberystwyth is an inclusive, welcoming and supportive place, located in one of the most inspiring locations to live and study in the UK. Our town is a friendly and vibrant community, and a safe and affordable place that welcomes staff and students from around the world.”

Undeb Aber, the Students’ Union at the University, said: “It is great to see the NSS once again backing up what we already know – Aberystwyth University offers students a brilliant experience. We are proud to work side by side with staff at the University to make sure that Aber students love student life. This result is testament to the amazing work that continues to happen right across the institution.”

The NSS is an annual survey of students in universities, colleges and other providers across the UK.

Final-year undergraduate students are asked to score their university across a wide range of measures of student satisfaction.

Students in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were also invited to express their overall satisfaction with their university.

The NSS is managed by the Office for Students on behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies – the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland), the Scottish Funding Council and Medr.

Education

Milford Haven schools set for major redevelopment

Published

4 days ago

July 8, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New Welsh medium school and combined campus approved by council

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Cabinet has given the green light to a major investment in Milford Haven’s schools, approving a £141.6 million redevelopment plan that includes a new 3-11 Welsh medium school and a combined primary and secondary campus.

The preferred option will see a brand-new shared building constructed on the site of the current Milford Haven School. The facility will house both the English medium primary and secondary schools, with shared services such as kitchens and sports areas. It will also include a 40-place Flying Start centre and a 36-place Learning Resource Centre for secondary pupils.

This marks a significant shift from previous proposals, which had focused on refurbishing the existing Milford Haven School and Milford Haven CP School.

In addition to the shared campus, a Strategic Outline Case will be submitted to the Welsh Government for the development of a standalone Welsh medium primary school for children aged 3 to 11.

The total estimated cost of the scheme is £141,598,965, with £46.5 million to be funded through the council’s capital programme.

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said at Monday’s (July 7) meeting: “The Milford Haven schools redevelopment represents the largest investment in the school estate ever undertaken by the Council. It will address serious concerns about the condition of the existing buildings and allow Milford Haven CP School to operate from a single site.

“The co-location of the English medium schools will deliver economies of scale through shared facilities and also opens the door to developing an ‘all-through’ school in the future, if that is what the community wants.

“The creation of a new Welsh medium school will meet growing demand in the Milford Haven area and allow Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest to extend its catchment area. This is a key step in delivering the aims of the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.”

Cabinet members voted unanimously to support the plans.

Local member and Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, welcomed the decision: “This is a great day. This has been such a long time coming. The redevelopment can’t come quickly enough.”