“This report lays bare the scale of government neglect of the school and college estate. Recent government investment looks tiny compared with the cuts that have taken place over the last 15 years and the level of need this has inevitably created down the line.

“We agree with the NAO’s recommendations and particularly the need for the Department for Education to set out an ambitious, long-term plan of how it will ensure school and college buildings are fit for the future, but we also need the Treasury to support the plan with investment. Short-term thinking and small-scale investment is just not going to cut it.”