Maintenance of school premises: duties

It's good practice for you to carry out premises inspections to help you stay compliant with your statutory duties under health and safety law. Read guidance on your statutory duties and the areas you should inspect, relating to asbestos, electrical equipment and fire safety.

Last reviewed on 5 July 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 2746
Contents
  1. Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the employer
  2. Carry out premises inspections 
  3. Prepare an asbestos management plan
  4. Conduct a risk assessment of appliances 
  5. Carry out these checks for fire safety 
  6. Use these risk assessment resources from The Key

Overall responsibility for health and safety lies with the employer

Employers are required, as far as is "reasonably practical", to provide and maintain a working environment that:

  • Is safe
  • Does not present risks to employees' health
  • Has facilities and arrangements that are adequate for employees' welfare

Employers must assess the risks of all activities, introduce measures to control the risks, and tell their employees about the measures.

This is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

This means that maintenance is important

Maintenance plays an important part in schools' compliance with health and safety law.

Employers in schools have a duty to:

These duties are set out in the Education and Skills Funding Agency's (ESFA's) guide on good estate management for schools, under the

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