Managing Asbestos in Your School: A Practical Guide for Leadership and Estates Teams
The presence of asbestos in UK schools is an issue of growing concern. With updated government guidance, increased scrutiny and legal duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, school leaders must act decisively to protect staff, pupils, and visitors.
This article outlines the next steps for school directors, headteachers, estates managers and trustees when asbestos is suspected or confirmed in school buildings.
Step 1: Understand Your Legal Duties
Under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the dutyholder (often the school’s leadership or estates team) must:
- Identify the location and condition of any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
- Prepare and maintain an asbestos management plan.
- Take steps to prevent disturbance of asbestos.
- Provide information to staff, contractors, and emergency services.
Tip: For academy trusts, the dutyholder is typically the Trust itself. In local authority-maintained schools, the responsibility may rest with the council-but not always. Check contracts and tenancy agreements carefully.
Step 2: Commission a Professional Asbestos Survey
Before any building works, refurbishments, or reactive maintenance, an asbestos survey is essential.
✅ Crucial Environmental offers:
- Management Surveys – to locate ACMs during normal occupancy.
- Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys – before invasive work.
Explore our Asbestos Surveys
Step 3: Create or Update Your Asbestos Management Plan
A written asbestos management plan is required by law and must include:
- Locations and conditions of ACMs.
- Roles and responsibilities.
- Control and monitoring procedures.
- Plans for removal or encapsulation, if needed.
- Schedule for regular reviews.
Crucial Environmental can help you produce a plan that meets HSE guidelines and inspection readiness.
Step 4: Engage with Staff and Stakeholders
School staff should receive appropriate asbestos awareness training, especially site teams, caretakers and contractors.
Best Practice:
- Hold staff briefings on where asbestos is present.
- Share your asbestos register with anyone liable to disturb materials.
- Keep parents informed if work is being carried out (transparency builds trust).
Step 5: Address High-Risk ACMs
If asbestos is damaged, deteriorating or at risk of disturbance, removal may be necessary.
Do not attempt removal internally. It must be carried out by a licensed contractor.
✅ Crucial Environmental provides:
- Licensed Asbestos Removal
- Air testing and clearance certification
- Safe, HSE-compliant waste handling
️ Internal Link: Our Asbestos Removal Services
Step 6: Budgeting and Funding Support
Costs will vary depending on the size and complexity of the school estate.
Typical Budget Items:
- Surveying and sampling
- Lab analysis
- Encapsulation or removal
- Air testing and clearance certification
Funding Tip: Schools may apply for:
- Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) (academies, sixth form colleges)
- School Condition Allocations (SCA)
- Local authority maintenance funding (for maintained schools)
Step 7: Plan for the Long Term
Asbestos management is not a one-off task.
✅ Best practices include:
- Annual review of asbestos management plans.
- Updating registers after building works.
- Refresher training for staff every 12–18 months.
- Engaging a professional partner like Crucial Environmental for scheduled re-inspections.
Why Choose Crucial Environmental?
With offices in Sussex and Nottinghamshire, Crucial Environmental supports schools nationwide. We understand the sensitivities of working in educational environments and always deliver:
- UKAS-accredited surveys
- ARCA-member licensed removal
- Fast lab turnaround times
- Experienced teams used to working during term time or holidays
Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to a concern, we’ll help your school remain safe, legal and fully compliant.
Final Thoughts
Asbestos in schools is not just a facilities issue-it’s a safeguarding, reputational and compliance matter. Following a clear plan of action is the best way to protect your school community and meet your legal duties.
Crucial Environmental is your trusted partner for asbestos safety in education.