19/06/2026
This is sad. We have worked in schools who's halls have been "condemned"
The issue is procurement and the absolute idiotic process schools have to go through to get stuff done. We have all heard of Red Tape and it's just pure incompetence.
EA have to use EA contractors because of "procurement" which was set up with good intentions but just became a absolute barrier which has led to this nonsense.
A school needs painted , a local trades man says il do it for £5000, EA procurement would be £12000 , it's honestly a broken system
Best one that is factually correct , a concrete tile broken, would have taken. £5 new one the caretaker would have put it down..... It was 6 months later and cost £500
Here's the solution. Let schools source their own trades people, one would dare say some parents would be in trades and get stuff fixed faster and cheaper.
Political leaders could just call an emergency meeting, pass new legislation and work to get best value using community knowledge and capacity. It will take a while , but I would say if at the minute there a £92million budget it won't go far under current process and red tapes.
Why are we commenting?
We love our school community and they deserve better and they deserve the best support.
Deterioration and an £800 million maintenance backlog could see schools forced to close if not addressed, the Education Authority (EA) has warned.
