Collapsed ceilings, 鈥渇lying debris鈥 from damaged roofs and overflowing sewage are some of the reasons behind thousands of emergency school closures since 2018. A Schools Week investigation found nearly two schools on average close each day because of issues that include faulty buildings, utility failures and floods. James Bowen, the assistant general secretary at the school leaders鈥 union NAHT, said: 鈥淭his enormous figure shows that RAAC is just one symptom of the far wider, and systemic issue of a disintegrating school estate.鈥 Forty-eight of the 103 councils that responded to a freedom of information request said they kept details of emergency school closures. Since 2018, headteachers in those areas decided to fully or partially shut almost 1,250 times because of storm damage, utility issues, structural problems, floods, gas leaks, boiler faults, pests or ceiling collapses. It means 1.9 closures every day if the data is extrapolated nationally. The figures are also likely to underplay the issue as it appears there is no statutory duty for schools to report such closures to councils. Ceiling collapses and boiler faults Hazlehurst Primary School in Bury shut in June 2023 after 鈥渢wo classroom ceilings collapsed due to [a] rainwater leak鈥. In September 2020, Ermysted鈥檚 Grammar in Skipton sealed off a staircase 鈥渇or a few days鈥 following a ceiling collapse. A spokesman for the school stressed 鈥渁 small area of ceiling boards and plasterwork came down as a result of historic water damage and inadequate fixings鈥 before the start of that year鈥檚 autumn term. It was nothing to do with RAAC. The councils also recorded three other 鈥渃eiling collapses鈥 鈥 two at primaries in Kirklees and one in North Yorkshire. Meanwhile, a school in Leicestershire partially closed following a 鈥渃entral heating boiler fault鈥 that emitted 鈥渃arbon monoxide fumes鈥 into a key stage 2 area. Another in Norfolk reported in October 2019 a “persistent rain… caused sewage water to flood in the school building and on the school site”. And in a log released by Bradford Council, a primary detailed how its site was 鈥渢oo dangerous to open due to flying debris鈥 from a damaged roof. ‘Critical’ risk of death or injury A noted about 24,000 school buildings 鈥 representing 38 per cent of the Department for Education estate 鈥 are thought to be 鈥渂eyond their estimated initial design life鈥. Among them are 13,800 鈥渟ystem-built鈥 blocks 鈥 which are made from concrete, steel and timber, rather than brick and stone. These were built at speed between 1940 and 1980 with an initial design life of just 30 to 40 years. It said ministers have for the past two years 鈥渞ecognised the significant safety risk across the school estate鈥. The department鈥檚 corporate risk register shows as 鈥渃ritical and very likely鈥 the risk that building collapse or failure could cause death or injury. Munira Wilson NAO auditor-general Gareth Davies, who penned the report, said the estate鈥檚 鈥渙verall condition is declining鈥 following 鈥測ears of underinvestment鈥. This resulted in 鈥渁bout 700,000 pupils鈥 having to learn in 鈥渁 school that the responsible body or DfE believes needs major rebuilding or refurbishment鈥. Munira Wilson, the Lib Dem鈥檚 education spokesperson, said it was 鈥渘o wonder so many schools shut at short notice, when headteachers have to put off repairs to balance the books”. 鈥淭he crumbling concrete crisis is just the tip of the iceberg. The government鈥檚 penny-pinching tactics are coming back to bite.鈥 One in three councils holds no data The figures show utility issues accounted for more than 68 per cent of the emergency closures, while collapses and pest infestations were responsible for 0.5 per cent. In responses to our FOI request, 55 councils said they did not have data on emergency school closures, with Medway saying there was 鈥渘o requirement for non-maintained schools to report emergency closures to the local authority”. Government advice published in the good estate management for schools says leaders should “communicate with parents, carers and other stakeholders” in the event of a premises-related emergency. They should also “contact the necessary statutory bodies” 鈥 such as fire services and the health and safety executive 鈥 “to ensure the measures being taken are appropriate”, as well as their “organisations”, including trustees and diocese. Bowen added each closure would 鈥渋nevitably have an impact upon children and families, despite the best efforts of school leaders and staff. 鈥淚t reinforces our calls for the government to commit to an ambitious, long-term, school rebuilding strategy to ensure every pupil is taught in a building that is safe.鈥 The DfE has been approached for comment.