Opposition councillors at Birmingham Council have voiced strong concerns and disappointment following approval of urgent repair works at Lindsworth School in Kings Norton. The school, which supports children with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, requires immediate attention to outdated fire safety measures and deteriorating building infrastructure.
A recent risk assessment revealed that the school’s fire doors are severely damaged and no longer meet current fire rating standards. Additionally, many walls have holes that risk allowing smoke or fire to travel between compartments, compromising the school’s fire safety integrity.
The council sought approval for a full business case, estimating the cost of replacing fire doors and undertaking compartmentation works at approximately £2.49 million. Besides fire safety, the school faces pressing concerns around its roof, which is in poor condition and demands urgent replacement. The flat and pitched roofs, particularly the wood-wool flat roofs, have significantly deteriorated.
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A separate £2.5 million budget is required for this and other urgent repairs, including refurbishments in the Cadbury Block, where water ingress has damaged ceilings and toilets, necessitating temporary wire mesh installations and full refurbishments.
Conservative councillor Ewan Mackey expressed frustration at the accumulation of costly repairs caused by years of deferred maintenance. “For seven years, minor repairs have been neglected, resulting in a much larger bill,” he said. “Although this funding doesn’t come directly from the general fund, it is still residents’ money, making this very disappointing.”
Council officers acknowledged the challenges, explaining that limited funding leads to patch repairs until complete roof replacements become unavoidable. Government-appointed commissioners overseeing Birmingham Council’s financial recovery have repeatedly urged the council to implement regular condition surveys and a medium-term maintenance plan to avoid such urgent interventions and improve value for money.
Conservative councillor Robert Alden described the need for urgent ‘fire stopping’ works as “very concerning.” A council officer clarified that although the current fire doors met regulations when first installed, damage caused by the students’ needs has rendered them non-compliant. “We conduct weekly and monthly assessments to ensure compliance, but more robust doors are necessary,” the officer explained.
Temporary remedial works have allowed the school to remain open during this process, but council reports emphasize the ongoing risks. Without immediate repairs, water leaks and roof failures will continue to disrupt teaching, damage the building, and increase health and safety hazards.
In response, the council’s cabinet approved the funding to ensure that children and young people have a safe, secure, and dry learning environment. The entire cost of both sets of works will come from the School Condition Allocation.