If your school has any buildings put up before 2000, the safe assumption is that asbestos is somewhere on site. For most school estates that isn’t a worst-case scenario, it’s simply the reality. Around four in five schools in England still contain asbestos-containing materials, and managing them safely is a legal duty, not an optional extra.
The reassuring part is that managing asbestos well doesn’t mean tearing buildings apart or alarming your community. Asbestos that’s in good condition, properly recorded and left undisturbed is low risk. The problems start when nobody knows where it is, when records fall out of date, or when work goes ahead without the right survey.
The duty to manage asbestos often falls to headteachers, business managers, governors and academy trust estates directors. If that’s you, read on to find out what the law requires for your school and the practical steps that keep you compliant.
Why asbestos is still a live issue in schools
Asbestos was used heavily in school construction from the 1940s to the late 1990s because it was cheap, fireproof and durable. The legacy is everywhere. DfE data found that roughly 81% of schools still had asbestos present, and almost 20% weren’t managing it fully in line with guidance.
Schools also carry a slightly higher risk profile than other public buildings. They’re in constant use, walls get knocked, displays get pinned up and maintenance happens year-round, all of which raises the chance of disturbing materials. For more on the health side, click here to learn more about the risks of asbestos in schools.
Common Places Asbestos Is Found in Schools
In schools built or refurbished before 2000, asbestos may still be present in materials such as ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, partition walls, floor tiles and roofing products.
Because asbestos-containing materials are not always easy to identify, schools should rely on accurate surveys and up-to-date asbestos registers before any maintenance or refurbishment work takes place.
Your legal duties under CAR 2012
The key legislation is the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. It places a “duty to manage” asbestos on whoever is responsible for maintenance and repair of the premises. The duty isn’t to remove all asbestos. It’s to know what you have, keep it safe and stop anyone disturbing it unknowingly.
In practice, the duty holder must take reasonable steps to:
- Find out whether asbestos is present, where it is and what condition it’s in
- Presume materials contain asbestos unless there’s strong evidence otherwise
- Keep an up-to-date asbestos register
- Assess and manage the risk from each material
- Tell anyone who might disturb it where it is
- Review and monitor regularly
Who is the duty holder for your school?
This is the question we’re asked most, because the answer depends on how your school is set up.
- Community schools, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units are usually the responsibility of the local authority
- Academies and free schools are typically the responsibility of the academy trust, with governors or trustees accountable
- Voluntary-aided and foundation schools are normally the responsibility of the governors or trust
- Independent schools are usually the responsibility of the proprietor or trustees
For multi-academy trusts this carries real weight, because the responsibility usually sits at trust level and covers every building on every site. Governors and trustees can’t fully delegate it away either. They should still receive regular reports confirming the duties are being met.
What a compliant management plan looks like
The management plan is what proves you’re meeting your duty. A compliant school asbestos management plan should include:
✔ A named asbestos duty holder
✔ An up-to-date asbestos register
✔ Regular re-inspection schedules
✔ Procedures for contractors and maintenance teams
✔ Emergency protocols for accidental disturbance
✔ Clear communication and staff awareness procedures
A plan on paper isn’t the same as one that protects people. Watch for these blind spots:
✘ Treating an old survey as still accurate without re-inspection
✘ Assuming a management survey covers areas it was not designed to reach
✘ A register that doesn’t match the site after refurbishments
✘ Contractors starting work without being shown the register
Surveys: the foundation of compliance
Everything in your plan depends on the survey behind it, and the DfE recommends a UKAS-accredited one. There are two types you need to know.
A management survey is the baseline. It locates asbestos that could be disturbed during normal day-to-day use and records its condition. Every school with pre-2000 buildings should have one.
A refurbishment and demolition survey is fully intrusive and locates all asbestos before any building work, looking behind walls, under floors and above ceilings.
The most expensive mistake a school can make is treating a management survey as a green light to start construction. It isn’t. Any refurbishment, renovation or demolition needs a refurbishment and demolition survey first. This matters more than ever, with hundreds of schools lined up for the School Rebuilding Programme and net-zero retrofitting set to disturb more material than before.
Across Liverpool, Wirral, Chester and North Wales, many schools and academy trusts are now reviewing older asbestos surveys as part of wider refurbishment and compliance programmes.
Ongoing duties: re-inspection and training
Compliance isn’t a one-off. Materials should be re-inspected at least annually so you know their condition hasn’t changed, and the register kept current after any work.
Staff who could disturb asbestos, particularly caretakers and maintenance teams, must be given suitable information and training. That’s mandatory, not best practice.
For trusts, planned annual re-inspection across sites keeps records consistent and stops any site quietly falling out of date.
Should You Manage or Remove Asbestos?
In many schools, asbestos management is a practical, short-term approach, particularly where materials remain sealed, stable and unlikely to be disturbed. However, ageing estates, refurbishment programmes and net-zero upgrade works are increasingly changing that calculation.
Where asbestos-containing materials begin deteriorating, sit within high-traffic areas, or are likely to be affected by future works, schools may need to consider encapsulation or licensed removal as part of longer-term estate management planning.
Preparing for an HSE inspection
If an inspector arrived tomorrow, could you show all of the following?
- An up-to-date survey by an accredited professional
- A current register and management plan
- Evidence of regular re-inspection
- Records that relevant staff are trained
- Proof contractors see the register before starting work
Frequently asked questions
Do all schools built before 2000 contain asbestos? Not all schools contain asbestos, but the vast majority of buildings constructed or refurbished before 2000 are likely to contain some asbestos-containing materials.
How often should asbestos be inspected in schools? Schools should regularly monitor asbestos-containing materials and complete formal re-inspections at least annually, or sooner if the condition of materials changes.
What happens during an asbestos survey in a school? An asbestos survey identifies the location, type and condition of asbestos-containing materials throughout the building, helping schools manage risks safely and remain compliant with regulations.
Can schools stay open during asbestos removal? In some cases, yes. Removal work is often scheduled during holidays or isolated to controlled areas to minimise disruption and maintain safety.
Is asbestos in schools a legal issue? Yes. Schools and duty holders have legal responsibilities under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to identify, monitor and safely manage asbestos-containing materials.
Is asbestos in schools dangerous if it isn’t disturbed? Asbestos in good condition and left undisturbed is low risk. The danger comes when materials are damaged and fibres are released, which is why managing in place is the standard approach.
Whose responsibility is asbestos in an academy? The academy trust, with governors or trustees accountable. In a multi-academy trust this usually sits at trust level and covers every site.
Do schools legally have to remove asbestos? No. The duty is to manage it safely. Removal is needed only when material is damaged, at risk of disturbance, or affected by building work.
Do I need a survey before school building work? Yes. Any refurbishment or demolition needs a refurbishment and demolition survey first. A management survey isn’t enough, as it doesn’t look in the concealed areas building work disturbs.
Get your school compliant with Fibre Safe
Asbestos compliance comes down to three things: knowing what you have, keeping it safe, and being able to prove it. If you can’t say yes to all three with confidence, it’s worth fixing before it becomes a problem.
Fibre Safe provides UKAS-accredited surveys, re-inspections, management plans, encapsulation and licensed removal for schools and academy trusts across Liverpool, Wirral, Chester, Merseyside and North Wales.
To be confident your school or trust is compliant, contact Fibre Safe today for guidance, a free quote, or to book a survey on 0800 458 4136 or send a message here.
